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B    3    31=1    fi3D 
GICAL   SURVEY    OF   ALABAMA 

EUGENE  ALLEN  SMITH,  State  Geologist 


MUSEUM  PAPER  NO.  4 
ALABAMA  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY 


ANNOTATED  LIST  OF  THE 

A  VERY  BIRD  COLLECTION 

IN 
THE  ALABAMA  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY 

(GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  MUSEUM) 

BY 
ERNEST  G.  HOLT 


Biographical  Sketch  of  Dr,  William  Cushman  Avery 
by  his  sister 

MISS  MARY  E.  AVERY 


UNIVERSITY,  ALABAMA 
1921 


EXCHANGE 


WILLIAM  CUSHMAN  AVERY,  M.  D. 


GEOLOGICAL    SURVEY    OF  /ALABAMA 

EUGENE  ALLEN  SMITH,  State  Geologist 


MUSEUM  PAPER  NO.  4 

ALABAMA  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY 


ANNOTATED  LIST  OF  THE 

AVERY  BIRD  COLLECTION 

IN 
THE  ALABAMA  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY 

(GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  MUSEUM) 

BY 
ERNEST  G.  HOLT 


Biographical  Sketch  of  Dr.  William  Cushman  Avery 
by  his  sister 

MISS  MARY  E.  AVERY 


UNIVERSITY,  ALABAMA 
1921 


PRESS 
BROWN  PRINTING  CO. 

MONTGOMERY 
ALABAMA 


LETTER  OF  TRANSMITTAL. 


To  His  Excellency, 

Governor  Thomas  E.  Kilby, 

Montgomery,  Alabama. 

Sir :  I  have  the  honor  to  transmit  herewith  the  manu- 
script of  an  annotated  list  of  the  Avery  bird  collection, 
with  the  request  that  it  be  printed  as  Museum  Paper  No. 
4  of  the  Alabama  Museum  of  Natural  History,  (Geologi- 
cal Survey  Museum). 

Very  respectfully, 

EUGENE  A.  SMITH, 

State  Geologist. 
University  of  Alabama, 
September,  1921. 


461882 


GEOLOGICAL  CORPS. 


Eugene  Allen  Smith,  Ph.D State  Geologist 

William  F.  Prouty,  Ph.D.  ] 

George  I.  Adams,  D.Sc.       }•  Assistant  Geologists  on  Special  Work. 

George  H.  Clark,  C.  E.       J 

Eobert  S.  Hodges Chemist 

Roland  M.  Harper,  Ph.D Geographer  and  Botanist 

.Mrs.  Herbert  H.  Smith Acting  Curator  of  Museum 

Truman  H.  Aldrich Honorary  Curator  of  Mollusca 

Rev.  H.   E.   Wheeler Assistant  in   Paleontological   Work 

George  N.  Brewer Field  Assistant 

A.  T.  Donoho : Secretary 


RIVER  GAGE  HEIGHT  OBSERVERS. 


Tallapoosa,  River  at  Sturdevant,  Ala. 

A.  L.  Stow Alexander  City,  Ala. 

Elk  River  at  Elkmont,  Ala. 
Dr.  William  E.   Maples Elkmont,  Ala. 

Observations  are  made  every  day  by  these  observers  of  the  gage 
readings  at  the  several  stations.  From  these  records  when  extend- 
ed through  sufficient  time,  the  calculation  of  available  horse  power 
to  be  obtained  from  the  different  streams  is  made. 


PREFACE. 


HPHE  act  of  the  legislature  of  Alabama,  approved  April 
1  18,  1873,  "To  revive  and  complete  the  geological  and 
agricultural  survey  of  Alabama,"  has  from  the  first  been 
construed  to  include,  as  related  to  agriculture  and  there- 
fore legitimately  a  part  of  the  survey  work,  the  investi- 
gation of  the  fauna  and  flora  of  the  State.  In  the  pre- 
face of  my  first  report,  1874, 1  have  outlined  the  scope  of  a 
complete  report  of  this  survey  to  include, 

I.  Physical  Geography. 
II.  Geology  and  Paleontology. 

III.  Economic  Geology. 

IV.  Agricultural  Relations,  and 
V.  Botany  and  Zoology, 

and  the  reports  of  the  Survey  from  year  to  year  have 
covered  more  or  less  in  detail  all  of  these  subjects. 

Collections  of  the  native  plants  of  this  State,  begun  in 
1873  and  continued  since,  have  resulted  in  the  accumula- 
tion of  a  fairly  complete  herbarium  of  the  plants  growing 
without  cultivation  in  Alabama,  and  the  publication  of  the 
classical  work  of  Dr.  Charles  Mohr  "The  Plant  Life  of 
Alabama."  Additional  notes  on  the  flora  of  the  State  have 
been  published  in  most  of  the  Survey  reports  up  to  the 
present  time. 

Naturally  the  insects  injurious  to  vegetation  and  the 
birds  and  other  animals  which  prey  upon  them,  or  which 
are  themselves  directly  destructive  of  vegetation,  must 
be  considered  in  any  reasonably  complete  account  of  the 
agricultural  features  of  the  State. 

In  my  report  for  1875  was  published  a  preliminary 
paper  on  the  cotton  worm  by  Prof.  A.  R.  Grote,  and  in 
the  1876  report,  A  Preliminary  List  of  the  Fresh  Water 
Shells  of  the  State,  by  Mr.  James  Lewis. 

We  have  now  in  manuscript  ready  for  publication,  a 
similar  list  of  the  Reptiles  and  Batrachiaus  of  Alabama 
by  H.  P.  Loding  of  Mobile,  and  the  present  report  con- 


A 


6        GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF  ALABAMA 

tains  a  list  of  the  collection  of  Birds  of  Alabama  made 
by  Dr.  William  C.  Avery  and  now  in  the  State  museum, 
together  with  all  his  ornithological  notes. 

This  is  preliminary  to  a  complete  account  of  the  birds 
of  the  State,  which  we  hope  in  due  time  to  present. 

A  similar  report  on  the  mammals  of  the  State  and  on  the 
insects,  especially  those  injurious  to  vegetation,  should 
follow  in  due  course,  but  the  overwhelming  number  of 
insect  forms  existing  at  the  present  day,  makes  a  com- 
plete presentation  of  the  insect  life  even  of  a  state,  a  life 
work.  We  may  hope,  however,  soon  to  make  at  least  an 
initial  report  on  the  most  important  insect  forms  in  their 
relation  to  agriculture. 

EUGENE  A.  SMITH. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH  OF  WILLIAM  CUSHMAN 

AVERY. 

Condensed  from  notes  by  his  sister  Miss  Mary  E.  Avery. 


WILLIAM  CUSHMAN  AVERY,  M.  D.,  son  of  Rev. 
John  Avery,  D.  D.,  and  Ann  Paine,  his  wife,  was 
born  in  Edenton,  N.  C.,  Sept.  21,  1831. 

From  his  earliest  years  he  evinced  a  love  of  knowledge. 
He  went  to  the  root  of  all  that  he  felt  worth  learning; 
the  more  difficult  the  research,  the  more  fascinating. 

He  was  tutored  at  home  by  his  mother,  until  he  entered 
his  teens.  She  recognized  and  appreciated  his  talents, 
and  furthered  their  development.  He  loved  nature,  espec- 
ially in  the  animal  and  vegetable  kingdoms.  I  remem- 
ber when  a  child  seeing  him  pore  over  his  volumes  of 
natural  history  and  filling  a  book  with  drawings  of  ani- 
mals and  of  birds,  sketches  from  nature,  and  copied  from 
these  histories. 

He  had  such  a  love  for  drawing  and  painting,  that  at 
one  period  he  thought  seriously  of  making  this  his  life 
work.  He  possessed  great  versatility  of  thought  and 
aptness  of  learning  in  almost  every  branch. 

He  inherited  a  taste  for  languages  from  his  father,  who 
was  a  graduate  of  Williams  College,  Mass.;  and  after- 
wards of  Yale  College  in  1813. 

My  brother,  Dr.  William  C.  Avery,  graduated  at  Bur- 
lington College,  N.  J.  in  1851  or  '52.  His  college  life 
was  one  of  great  happiness;  wrapped  in  the  pursuit  of 
learning  he  won  the  esteem  of  the  professors  and  the 
friendship  of  the  students,  many  of  whom  were  to  be 
noted  men  in  the  world.  He  seemed  utterly  free  from 
self  conceit,  so  that  none  manifested  envy  towards  him. 
In  regard  to  literary  investigations  he  was  thoroughly 
self-reliant  and  self-sufficient,  yet  showing  nothing  of 
arrogance  towards  others. 

After  graduating  at  Burlington  College,  he  taught 
school  for  several  years.  He  then  studied  medicine  at 


GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF  ALABAMA 


the  University  of  Pennsylvania  and  completed  his  course 
in  Paris. 

While  in  Paris  he  studied  French,  sparing  no  pains  in 
becoming  proficient  in  that  language.  He  frequently 
avoided  meeting  his  friends  from  America,  not  wishing 
to  speak  English  while  striving  for  fluency  in  French. 

Just  so  it  was  while  he  was  in  Italy,  Germany  and 
Spain,  his  application  was  such  that  he  became  proficient 
in  these  languages  also.  While  in  Europe  he  traveled 
in  Germany  and  Switzerland  on  foot,  there  studying  na- 
ture. 

After  his  return  home  he  decided  to  settle  for  life 
in  Marshall,  Texas,  and  there  to  practice  medicine.  Af- 
ter a  few  years,  he  returned  to  his  old  home,  "Content- 
ment," near  Greensboro,  Ala.,  to  visit  his  mother.  Feel- 
ing that  it  was  best  to  be  near  her,  he  did  not  return  to 
Texas,  but  settled  in  Selma,  Ala.,  in  the  early  spring  of 
1861. 

His  office  had  scarcely  been  opened,  when  the  signal 
of  war  sounded.  He  was  filled  with  enthusiasm.  He 
gave  up  everything  and  enlisted  as  a  private  in  Col.  N. 
H.  R.  Dawson's  regiment. 

His  lot  was  never  to  be  in  a  battle,  for  like  many  a 
fellow  soldier,  he  was  taken  with  measles  soon  after 
reaching  Virginia.     He  knew  nothing  of  the  glories  of 
a  soldier's  life,  only  sickness  and  weariness  in  the  sol-, 
dier's  camp. 

Recovering  from  the  measles  he  came  with  his  division 
to  Dumfries  on  Ocoquon  Creek,  Virginia,  not  far  from 
Washington  City.  There,  from  fatigue  and  lack  of  suit- 
able care  and  nourishment  in  his  broken  down  condi- 
tion, he  was  taken  with  typhoid  fever.  That  he  did  not 
die  seemed  a  miracle ;  but  he  was  saved  for  other  work. 
Through  this  illness  he  was  incapacitated  for  the  duties 
of  a  soldier.  His  furlough  and  discharge  from  the  army 
were  granted  and  he  returned  to  Greensboro,  Ala.,  where 
he  taught  school  for  some  time  and  then  resumed  the 
practice  of  medicine.  He  did  not  care  for  town  life,  but 
always  made  his  home  in  the  country. 


AVERY  BIRD  COLLECTION 


Living  in  close  touch  with  nature  he  had  the  opportun- 
ity of  gratifying  his  love  of  natural  history.  He  studied 
ornithology  and  related  subjects  for  the  mere  love  of 
them,  but  he  became  soon  an  ornithologist  recognized  and 
endorsed  by  the  first  in  our  land. 

By  correspondence  he  became  well  known  to  ornithol- 
ogists, and  among  them  claimed  as  his  friends,  Messrs. 
J.  A.  Allen  and  Frank  Chapman,  curators  in  the  Museum 
of  Natural  History  Central  Park,  N.  Y. ;  and  Prof.  Coues, 
Messrs.  Bendire,  Merriam,  and  Robert  Ridgway  of  the 
Smithsonian  Institution  in  Washington  City. 

He  had  a  great  desire  to  make  a  collection  of  the  birds 
of  Alabama.  Like  many  a  gifted  student,  he  had  no 
money  of  his  own,  nor  the  aid  of  influential  wealthy 
friends  to  advance  him  in  his  work.  This  did  not  deter 
him  but  added  zeal  and  determination  to  his  desire.  He 
was  very  accurate.  Time  and  labor  were  factors  to  prove 
or  establish  a  fact. 

He  anticipated  the  necessity  of  the  "bird  law"  which  has 
recently  been  passed.  In  1882  he  wrote  a  long  article  on 
"Causes  Leading  to  the  Lessening  and  Destruction  of  our 
Game."  This  article  is  given  below  in  the  Systematic 
List. 

Not  long  after  the  English  sparrow  was  introduced 
into  Central  Park,  New  York,  I  spent  the  summer  in 
Orange,  N.  J.  The  little  birds  increased  so  rapidly  that 
Central  Park  could  not  hold  them,  and  myriads  flocked 
to  the  Jersey  town.  Now  it  was  hoped  that  gardens  and 
orchards  would  be  freed  from  insects.  Everybody  re- 
joiced. I  was  fascinated  with  them,  and  made  arrange- 
ments to  take  some  of  them  home  to  my  brother  but  I 
was  disappointed.  After  getting  home  I  told  him  of  my 
plan,  saying,  "Brother,  I  hoped  to  bring  you  a  lovely 
present,  a  gift  that  would  give  you  more  pleasure  than 
anything  else,  but  I  did  not  succeed."  "What  was  it?," 
he  asked.  "Oh,"  I  replied,  "a  cage  full  of  lovely  little 
English  sparrows.  There  were  thousands  of  them  in 
Orange,  N.  J.,  and  everybody  was  wild  about  them." 
"English  sparrows,"  he  exclaimed.  "Thank  God,  you 
,did  not  succeed.  Don't  you  know  that  they  will  prove 


10        GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF  ALABAMA 

an  awful  pest.  Those  who  introduced  them  thought 
the  English  sparrow  was  insectivorous,  but  instead  it  is 
granivorous;  and  I  trust  we  will  not  have  them  here." 
After  all  they  have  come  to  stay. 

To  him  no  pleasure  was  equal  to  going  off  with  gun, 
game  bag  and  note  book  and  spending  the  whole  day, 
alone  in  the  most  unfrequented  woods  to  watch  the  habits 
of  birds. 

Dr.  Avery  wrote  very  little  for  publication.  His  most 
important  articles  are  in  the  American  Field;  Vols. 
XXXIV  and  XXXV,  published  in  1890  and  '91.  His  cor- 
respondence with  ornithologists,  mammalogists  and  taxi- 
dermists was  quite  extensive  and  always  instructive. 

He  made  a  collection  of  900  birds,  preparing  them 
for  scientific  use,  according  to  Audubon's  plan.  This  col- 
lection was  purchased  by  the  Geological  Survey  of  Ala- 
bama through  Eugene  A.  Smith,  State  Geologist,  and  is 
now  in  the  Alabama  Museum  of  Natural  History,  Univer- 
sity of  Alabama. 

In  January,  1894,  Dr.  Avery  seemed  less  capable  of 
enduring  great  fatigue.  We  feared  heart  trouble.  And 
thus  it  was  for  on  March  11,  1894,  God  called  him  sud- 
denly to  his  eternal  rest. 

"He  who  dies  believing, 

Dies  safely  through  His  love." 

On  his  father's  side,  Dr.  Avery  was  a  lineal  descend- 
ent  of  Dr.  William  Avery  who  came  to  America 
from  Berkshire,  England,  in  1650 ;  of  Robert  and  Thom- 
as Cushman,  who  came  to  America  in  the  Mayflower 
in  1620 ;  and  of  Isaac  Allerton,  likewise  a  Mayflower  pass- 
enger. 

On  his  mother's  side  he  was  closely  related  to  Robert 
Treat  Paine,  one  of  the  signers  of  the  Declaration  of 
Independence. 


THE  ORNITHOLOGICAL  NOTES  OF 

DR.  WILLIAM  CUSHMAN  AVERY 

INCLUDING  A  CATALOGUE  OF  HIS  ALABAMA 
COLLECTION. 

COMPILED  AND  EDITED  BY  ERNEST  G.  HOLT. 


INTRODUCTION. 


IN  THE  Museum  of  the  Geological  Survey  of  Alabama, 
at  University,  is  a  small  but  well  preserved  collection 
of  birds  brought  together  by  the  late  Dr.  William  Gush- 
man  Avery  of  Greensboro,  Ala.  Most  of  the  specimens 
were  collected  and  preserved  by  Dr.  Avery's  own  hands, 
although  there  are  many  secured  by  exchange  with  well 
known  ornithologists,  and  a  few  that  were  purchased. 
The  collection  as  a  whole  is  fairly  representative,  except 
for  the  water  birds,  but  is  of  especial  interest  because 
the  greater  part  of  the  specimens  were  collected  in  the 
vicinity  of  Greensboro,  and  at  other  points  in  Alabama — 
a  State  none  too  well  known  ornithologically. 

Since  the  death  of  Dr.  Avery  in  1894,  many  sub-species 
have  been  described  and  sweeping  changes  have  been 
made  in  nomenclature,  rendering  a  revision  of  the  col- 
lection desirable.  The  privilege  of  this  work  was  given 
the  writer  by  Dr.  Eugene  A.  Smith,  State  Geologist,  and 
in  January,  1914,  a  complete  check  of  the  collection  was 
made  with  the  assistance  of  Mr.  Lewis  S.  Golson,  of 
Pratt ville,  Ala.  All  records  were  placed  at  our  disposal, 
and  though  these  consisted  only  of  five  combination  cata- 
logues and  journals  and  a  few  loose  pages,  many  interest- 
ing facts  regarding  the  bird-life  of  the  region  and  the 
early  ornithological  struggles  of  Doctor  Avery  were 
gleaned  from  them. 

It  was  at  first  proposed  by  Dr.  Smith  to  publish  a  cata- 
logue of  the  revised  collection,  but  because  Dr.  Avery's 
published  notes  are  scattered  through  journals  long  since 
out  of  print,  or  otherwise  unavailable,  and  because  the 
unpublished  material  contained  in  his  note-books  seems 
of  considerable  value,  it  was  decided  to  bring  all  together 
in  a  bulletin  in  the  form  of  an  annotated  catalogue. 
The  following  list  of  216  species  and  subspecies  is  the 
result.  Alabama  specimens  only  are  included  in  this, 
though  the  collection  contains  many  western  and  north- 
ern birds,  and  others  taken  beyond  the  boundaries  of 


14       GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF  ALABAMA 

the  State.  Dr.  Avery  did  not  collect  personally  outside 
his  native  state  and  almost  all  the  specimens  listed  here- 
in were  taken  by  himself.  It  has  been  the  writer's  aim 
to  make  of  this  bulletin  at  once  a  complete  resume  of  Doc- 
tor Avery's  ornithological  labors,  and  to  bring  together 
any  interesting  facts  connected  with  the  acquirement  of 
Ms  store  of  bird-lore. 

Because  of  the  exigencies  of  the  writer's  service  with 
the  U.  S.  Biological  Survey,  the  work  of  searching 
through  the  Doctor's  old  records  and  compiling  his  pub- 
lished papers  had  to  be  done  at  odd  moments  between 
field  trips.  The  war  caused  a  further  delay  and  the 
actual  writing  of  the  manuscript  was  accomplished  in  a 
military  camp  after  the  signing  of  the  armistice.  Thus 
several  years  have  elapsed  since  the  collection  was  worked 
over  but  the  results  have  not  been  affected  by  the  delay 
in  publication. 

It  is  worthy  of  note  that  Dr.  Avery  did  not  take  a 
scientific  interest  in  birds  until  comparatively  late  in 
life;  this  interest  continued,  however,  until  almost  the 
hour  of  his  death — 7 :30  o'clock  on  Sunday  morning, 
March  11,  1894.  His  last  specimen  catalogued  was  a  mock- 
ingbird taken  on  March  5th,  1894.  The  earliest  note 
found  is  dated  June  21,  1875,  the  fortieth  anniversary 
of  his  birth,  and  is  written  in  French  on  a  page  cut 
from  an  old  journel  (see  under  Piranga,  r.  rubra,  No. 
151).  A  catalogue  of  fifty-five  numbers  and  an  "Oologi- 
cal  Register"  of  seven  numbers,  running  from  May  23, 
1876,  to  August  23,  1881,  is  contained  on  a  few  other 
pages  from  the  same  old  account  book,  but  few  of  these 
specimens  are  now  in  the  collection.  His  really  serious 
work  was  begun  apparently  in  1886,  when  he  started  a 
catalogue  on  July  6th.  This  latter  catalogue  is  an  orderly 
affair  entered  in  five  books  through  which  are  dispersed 
fragmentary  journal  records,  notes  on  bird  habits,  song, 
nesting,  and  other  items  of  interest. 

Though  Dr.  Avery's  published  writings  are  not  in  them- 
selves of  great  importance,  his  ornithological  work  bore 
abundant  fruit  through  others.  He  contributed  quite  a 
number  of  stomachs  of  raptorial  birds  to  the  U.  S.  Bio- 


AVERY  BIRD  COLLECTION  15 

logical  Survey  (then  the  Division  of  Ornithology  and 
Mammalology) ,  the  analyses  of  which  are  included  in 
Dr.  A.  K.  Fisher's  classic  work  on  "The  Hawks  and 
Owls  of  the  United  States  in  Their  Relation  to  Agricul- 
ture." His  correspondence  with  Dr.  Fisher  was  exten- 
sive and  it  is  very  interesting  to  learn  from  Dr.  Fisher 
that  he  himself,  by  mail,  through  the  medium  of  the  Eng- 
lish sparrow,  taught  Dr.  Avery  to  make  bird  skins.  Spar- 
row skins  were  prepared  in  such  a  way  as  to  show  the 
different  operations  necessary  to  produce  a  good  museum 
skin  and  forwarded  to  Dr.  Avery  who  thus  was  enabled 
to  copy  them  in  preparing  other  birds.  Dr.  Fisher  also 
identified  many  of  the  more  obscure  species  for  Dr.  Avery. 

Dr.  Avery  also  corresponded  actively  with  the  officials 
of  the  U.  S.  National  Museum  and  the  American  Museum 
of  Natural  History,  notably:  Dr.  Elliott  Coues,  Major 
Charles  E.  Bendire,  Robert  Ridgway,  Dr.  J.  A.  Allen,  and 
Dr.  Frank  M.  Chapman.  He  contributed  many  speci- 
mens to  both  museums,  including  birds,  eggs,  nests,  and 
notes  which  were  sent  to  Maj.  Bendire.  Among  the  old 
Avery  papers  is  quite  a  bundle  of  the  diploma-like  ac- 
knowledgments of  these  specimens  by  the  Smithsonian 
Institute,  all  signed  by  G.  Brown  Goode,  Assistant  Sec- 
retary. His  sets  of  Peucaea  aestivalis  bachmani  were  of 
considerable  importance ;  and  Davie's  quotation  in  "Nests 
and  Eggs  of  North  American  Birds"  of  Bendire's  descrip- 
tion of  "5  nests  and  several  full  sets"  form  the  greater 
part  of  the  information  regarding  the  nesting  of  Bach- 
man's  sparrow  published  in  that  work.  A  series  of 
specimens  of  Quiscaliis  quiscula,  was  collected  to  aid  Mr. 
Ridgway  in  working  out  the  relationships  of  the  different 
subspecies.  Besides  the  aforementioned  scientists,  Dr. 
Avery  corresponded  more  or  less  regularly  with  the  fol- 
lowing :  Dr.  Harrison  Allen,  University  of  Pennsylvania ; 
Frank  B.  Armstrong,  Brownsville,  Texas;  Prof.  Spencer 
F.  Baird,  Smithsonian  Institution;  William  Brewster, 
Cambridge,  Mass.;  C.  S.  Brimley,  Raleigh,  N.  C.  (Brim- 
ley  visited  Avery  at  Greensboro  in  September,  1890)  ; 
George  G.  Cantwell,  Lake  Mills,  Wisconsin;  F.  H.  Car- 
penter, Rehoboth,  Mass.;  William  Dutcher,  New  York 


16  GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF  ALABAMA 

City;  H.  W.  Flint,  New  Haven,  Conn.;  Flood  Brothers, 
Hudson,  Mass.;  Thomas  H.  Jackson,  West  Chester,  Pa.; 
Thomas  Mcllwraith,  Hamilton,  Ontario;  Dr.  C.  Hart  Mer- 
riam,  Washington,  D.  C.;  J.  T.  Park,  Warner,  Tenn.; 
Harry  G.  Parker,  Chester,  Pa. ;  Charles  J.  Pennock,  Ken- 
nett  Square,  Pa.;  G.  H.  Ragsdale,  Gainesville,  Tex.;  W. 
G.  Smith,  Colorado;  G.  E.  Stilwell,  Kansas  City,  Mo.; 
Frank  B.  Webster,  Boston,  Mass.  There  are  specimens 
in  the  collection  taken  by  Dr.  Edgar  A.  Mearns,  W.  E.  D. 
iScott,  L.  M.  Loomis,  and  John  Rowley,  but  the  writer 
was  unable  to  ascertain  whether  Dr.  Avery  corresponded 
directly  with  these  gentlemen  or  received  the  specimens 
in  exchange  through  some  of  his  museum  correspondents. 
Many  of  the  letters  from  his  correspondents  fortunately 
are  preserved  in  the  files  of  the  State  Department  of 
Archives  and  History,  at  Montgomery,  and  these  are  very 
interesting.  For  instance  there  is  one  from  Robert  Ridg- 
way  thanking  Dr.  Avery  for  correcting  the  diagnosis  of 
Dendroica  vigor  si  as  published  in  the  former's  "Manual 
of  North  American  Birds,"  1887,  and  Dr.  J.  A.  Allen  tells 
how  to  make  a  fat  scraper  and  gives  a  few  hints  on  pois- 
oning the  tails  of  mammal  skins. 

That  Dr.  Avery's  interest  in  Zoology  was  not  confined 
to  birds  is  evidenced  by  a  catalogue  of  fifty-three  mam- 
mals taken  Dec.  16,  1890,  to  Feb.  2,  1894.  The  collec- 
tion included  mice,  rats,  moles,  skunks,  chipmunks,  musk 
rats,  minks,  flying  squirrels,  and  others,  the  most  of  the 
specimens  were  little  spotted  skunks.  Apparently  few  of 
his  specimens  were  retained  for  his  own  collection,  the 
majority  being  sent  to  Dr.  A.  K.  Fisher,  Dr.  C.  Hart  Mer- 
riam,  and  the  Smithsonian  Institution.  Snakes  also  were 
collected  and  sent  to  Dr.  Leonhard  Stejneger  of  the  U. 
S.  National  Museum,  and  there  was  some  correspondence 
with  Drs.  L.  0.  Howard  and  C.  L.  Marlatt,  of  the  U.  S. 
Bureau  of  Entomology,  relating  to  insect  specimens  sent 
to  them  by  Dr.  Avery  for  identification.  Dr.  Avery  was 
also  something  of  an  amateur  botanist. 

Doctor  Avery  was  ever  the  sportsman.  Besides  being 
an  enthusiastic  gunner  he  was  a  lover  of  dogs  and  was 
widely  known  as  an  excellent  trainer  of  these  animals. 


AVERY  BIRD  COLLECTION  17 

An  extensive  correspondence  was  carried  on  with  I. 
Yearsley,  Jr.,  of  Coatesville,  Pa.,  for  whom  he  trained 
many  bird-dogs.  He  also  raised  and  sold  dogs  registered 
with  the  American  Kennel  Club  of  New  York  City.  He 
was  also  interested  in  game  fowls  as  shown  by  the  fol- 
lowing note  from  his  sister,  Miss  Mary  E.  Avery:  "You 
will  notice  that  there  are  quite  a  number  of  hawks  in  the 
collection.  I  am  sure  that  my  brother  felt  a  peculiar 
pleasure  in  stuffing  them  rather  than  they  should  stuff 
themselves  with  his  beautiful  game  fowls."  Like  all  true 
sportsmen  the  Doctor  was  keenly  interested  in  guns,  and 
the  two  works  following  occupied  a  place  among  his 
bird  books:  "The  Gun  and  Its  Development,"  1884,  by 
W.  W.  Greener,  and  "The  Dead  Shot;  or  Sportsman's 
Complete  Guide :  Being  a  Treatise  on  the  Use  of  the  Gun," 
1867,  by  "Marksman."  Another  book,  much  used  and 
bound  in  cloth,  probably  by  Dr.  Avery  himself,  is  "The 
Wild-Fowler,"  1864,  by  H.  C.  Fplkard.  In  a  letter  from 
Amory  R.  Starr  of  Marshall,  Texas,  is  the  interesting 
statement  that  Dr.  Avery  was  the  "first  to  introduce  the 
use  of  short  guns  into  this  section ;  by  short  guns  meaning 
30  and  32  inch  barrels."  At  that  time  (August  28,  1889) 
however,  one  of  Mr.  Starr's  friends  was  still  addicted  to 
the  use  of  a  48-inch  muzzle-loader!  Doctor  Avery  owned 
several  guns,  of  course,  because  he  hunted  deer  as  well 
as  quail.  For  his  ornithological  collecting  he  used  a  .44 
caliber  and  No.  12  shot. 

Dr.  Avery  was  an  authority  on  Latin  and  Greek  and 
was  not  unacquainted  with  French,  Spanish  and  German. 
Much  of  his  correspondence  with  Dr.  Coues  and  Mr.  Ridg- 
way  related  to  the  etymology  of  ornithological  names, 
and  Mr.  Ridgway  in  several  letters  took  occasion  to  thank 
Dr.  Avery  for  his  criticisms  of  the  nomenclature  used  in 
the  "Manual  of  North  American  Birds,"  1887.  A  con- 
siderable portion  of  Dr.  Avery's  correspondence  with  Dr. 
Merriam  was  devoted  to  questions  of  nomenclature,  par- 
ticularly etymology,  and  to  some  of  Dr.  Avery's  criti- 
cisms of  the  nomenclature  adopted  by  the  American  Or- 
nithologists' Union  Dr.  Stejneger  replied  at  length 
rthrough  Dr.  Merriam.  Dr.  Avery  was  a  stickler  for  the 


18  GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF  ALABAMA 

classic  Latin  and  Greek  and  of  course  his  ideas  did  not 
conform  to  the  A.  0.  U.  rules  on  original  spelling.  Miss 
Mary  E.  Avery  in  a  letter  to  Dr.  T.  M.  Owen  writes  that 
"It  would  be  difficult  to  say  whether  he  loved  the  study 
of  languages  or  of  nature  best." 

Dr.  Avery  became  an  Associate  Member  of  the  Ameri- 
can Ornithologists'  Union  in  1887,  and  his  name  was 
listed  in  "The  International  Scientists'  Directory,"  pub- 
lished by  S.  E.  Cassino,  Boston,  1888. 

Though  Dr.  Avery's  serious  interest  in  ornithology  did 
not  awake  until  late  in  life,  he  then  surrounded  himself 
with  the  best  books  that  could  be  had  at  that  time  on  the 
subject.  In  his  library  were  found  among  others,  the 
following:  Coues'  "Key  to  North  American  Birds,"  1872; 
Ridgway's  "Manual  of  North  American  Birds,"  1887, 
and  "Nomenclature  of .  Colors  for  Naturalists,"  1886 ; 
Davie's  "Nests  and  Eggs  of  North  American  Birds," 
1889 ;  A.  0.  U.  "Code  of  Nomenclature  and  Check-List  of 
North  American  Birds,"  1886;  Maynard's  "Naturalist's 
Guide,"  1887 ;  and  Hornaday's  "Taxidermy  and  Zoological 
Collecting,"  1891. 

Dr.  Avery  was  much  concerned  over  the  increasing 
scarcity  of  birds  and  scattered  through  his  journals  are 
many  references  to  the  subject.  The  following  are  of 
interest:  "Sept.  5th,  1889.  Saw  on  the  edge  of  a  piece 
of  woods  many  warblers,  gnatcatchers,  and  cuckoos  feed- 
ing evidently  upon  the  army  worms  on  the  cotton  in  the 
adjacent  field.  Shot  a  blue  yellow-back  warbler;  too 
badly  shot  to  preserve ;  this  individual  with  several  others 
of  the  same  species,  and  numerous  blue-gray  gnatcatch- 
ers were  feeding  on  army  worms. 

"I  have  often  seen  the  fields  around  woods  completely 
protected  against  worms  by  the  birds ;  but  that  was  fifteen 
or  twenty  years  ago.  The  birds  have  decreased  so  since 
that  time  that  they  seem  to  make  little  impression  on 
the  army  of  worms  even  around  forests." 

"Jan.  22,  1892.  Birds  have  been  scarcer  this  winter 
than  I  have  ever  known  them  before ;  a  few  myrtle  warb- 
lers, and  sparrows,  with  now  and  then  a  robin,  or  a  small 
bunch  of  cedar  waxwings  are  nearly  the  sum  total  of  our 


AVERY  BIRD  COLLECTION  19 

birds.  Breech-loaders  in  the  hands  of  free  negroes  are 
fast  exterminating  our  small  birds,  as  they  have  already 
destroyed  our  squirrels  and  hares;  our  game  little  part- 
ridges (Colinu£)  also  are  fast  disappearing." 

"Sept.  27,  1893.  The  day  was  bright  and  clear  and 
many  birds  were  seen,  but  a  negro  began  to  shoot  and 
continued  his  fusillade  at  the  little  birds  from  eight  o'clock 
in  the  morning  till  ten.  It  was  gall  and  wormwood  to  me 
to  hear  the  report  of  his  gun  every  four  or  five  minutes. 
How  many  beautiful  birds  this  savage  must  have  killed !" 

In  this  connection  see  notes  under  Colinus  v.  Virginia- 
nus,  No.  56  and  the  fifth  paragraph  under  Meleagris  g. 
silvestris,  No.  57. 

In  the  following  pages  each  species  of  "bird  noted  by 
Dr.  Avery  is  listed  in  the  systematic  position  adopted  in 
the  1910  edition  of  the  "A.  0.  U.  Check-list  of  North 
American  Birds."  The  nomenclature  used  here  is  that 
of  the  same  work,  except  as  noted  in  specific  instances. 
Under  each  species  or  subspecies  are  brought  together 
all  the  notes  on  that  form  that  could  be  found,  published 
or  unpublished,  regardless  of  the  source  from  whence 
derived.  All  of  his  published  ornithological  writings  are 
here  republished  but  not  in  their  original  form,  the  notes 
being  assembled  under  the  species  to  which  they  refer. 
After  each  quotation  from  a  published  paper  is  given  a 
date,  often  followed  by  a  letter,  in  parentheses;  this  is 
the  date  of  publication  and  refers  to  the  bibliography  at 
the  end  of  the  bulletin  where  complete  titles  and  refer- 
ences to  original  publication  are  given.  Original  (un- 
published) notes  are  enclosed  within  quotation  marks 
but  are  not  followed  by  a  bibliographical  reference. 
Where  specimens  of  any  given  bird  exist  in  the  collec- 
tion, these  are  listed  as  the  last  items  under  the  particu- 
lar species  or  subspecies  concerned. 

All  notes  refer  to  Hale  county,  Alabama,  unless  other- 
wise specified. 

The  writer  acknowledges  with  gratitude  the  assistance 
received  from  Mr.  Alexander  Wetmore,  Mr.  Arthur  H. 
Howell,  and  the  late  Prof.  Wells  W.  Cooke  of  the  U.  S. 
Bureau  of  Biological  Survey.  Many  of  the  specimens  in 


20        GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF  ALABAMA 

the  Avery  collection  were  identified  by  Dr.  H.  C.  Ober- 
holser  of  the  same  bureau.  Thanks  are  also  due  Dr. 
Thomas  M.  Owen,  director  of  the  State  Department  of 
Archives  and  History,  for  granting  access  to  the  Avery 
books  and  correspondence  on  file  in  his  department. 
But  the  writer  is  especially  indebted  to  Mr.  Lewis  S.  Gol- 
son  of  Prattville,  Alabama,  for  his  assistance  in  working 
over  the  collection,  and  to  Dr.  Eugene  A.  Smith,  State 
Geologist,  for  making  possible  the  entire  undertaking. 

ERNEST  G.  HOLT. 
Barachias,  Ala. 
May  22,  1919. 


SYSTEMATIC  LIST. 

(For  explanations  see  closing  paragraphs  of  Introduction.) 


1.     PODILYMBUS  PODICEPS    (Linnaeus). 

PIED-BILLED  GREBE. 

"Didapper." 

Speaking  of  this  bird  in  Hale  County,  Dr.  Avery  stated 
that  it  was  "Not  uncommon  during  spring  migration" 
(1890d)  and  records  taking  a  specimen  on  March  15th 
(1884). 

2.     GAVIA  IMMER    (Brunnich). 
LOON. 

"A  specimen  has  been  taken  on  a  pond  eight  miles 
west  of  Greensboro,  at  Umbria."  (1890d). 

3.     LARUS  ATRICCILLA   (Linnaeus). 
LAUGHING  GULL. 

There  were  no  notes  on  this  species  found  among  the 
Avery  papers,  though  the  following  specimen  is  in  the 
collection : 

No.  495.     Dauphin  Island.  Sept.  20,  1892.     W.  C.  Avery. 

4.     STERNA  MAXIMA  (Boddsert). 
ROYAL  TERN. 

Dr.  Avery  records  taking  the  royal  tern  "on  the  Gulf," 
presumably  near  Dauphin  Island  on  Sept.  19,  1892. 

5.     STERNA  ANTILLARUM  (Lesson). 
LEAST  TERN. 

"One  specimen  shot  on  Cocke's  Mill  Pond,  five  miles 
west  of  Greensboro."  (1890d).  This  specimen  is  not  in 
the  collection  and  the  date  of  capture  could  not  be  found 
in  the  original  notes. 

6.     HYDROCHELIDON  NIGRA  SURINAMENSIS  (Gmelin). 
BLACK  TERN. 

"Seen  rarely  during  the  fall  migration.  I  have  in  my 
collection  a  specimen  shot  by  William  Hall,  of  Greensboro, 


22        GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF  ALABAMA 

in  the  latter  part  of  July,  1888."  (1890d).  The  stomach? 
of  the  two  specimens  in  the  collection  were  "packed  with 
cotton-boll  flies." 

No.  1064.  Male.  Cocke's  Pond  near  Greensboro.  Sept.  11,  1893. 
W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  1065.  Male.  Cocke's  Pond  near  Greensboro.  Sept.  11,  1893. 
W.  C.  Avery. 

7.     RYNCHOPS  NIGRA    (Linnseus). 

BLACK  SKIMMER. 

"Shearwater." 

"Black  skimmer,  common  Gulf  Coast  of  Baldwin 
(County),  Sept.  21,  1892.  Several  specimens  were  tak- 
en on  Dauphin  Island,  Sept.  21,  1892"  (Original  notes). 
An  odd  head,  bearing  no  label,  seems  to  be  the  only  trace 
of  these  specimens  in  the  collection. 

8.     ANHINGA  ANHINGA  (Linmeus). 
WATER  TURKEY. 

"Found  rarely;  breeds;  resident"   (1890d). 
One  specimen  without  label. 

9.     PHALACROCORAX  AURITUS   (Lesson). 

CORMORANT. 
"Nigger  Goose." 

In  1892  Dr.  Avery  spent  the  time  between  Sept.  16th 
and  Oct.  2nd  in  Baldwin  County  and  along  the  Gulf 
Coast  to  Dauphin  Island.  He  records :  "Cormorants 
were  seen,  but  no  specimens  were  taken." 

10.     PELECANUS  ERYTHRORHYNCHOS    (Gmelin). 
WHITE  PELICAN. 

See  note  under  succeeding  species. 

11.     PELECANUS  OCCIDENTALS   (Limueus). 
BROWN  PELICAN. 

The  following  note  appeared  under  "Natural  History" 
in  the  "American  Field"  for  July  1,  1893 : 

"Mr.  J.  S.  Christy  in  the  American  Field  of  June  17 
describes  the  American  white  pelican  (Pelecanus  eryth- 
rorhynchos)  and  he  wishes  to  know :  'Whence  it  came  or 
where  its  native  home  is.'  The  American  white  pelican 


AVERY  BIRD   COLLECTION  23 

is  generally  common  west  of  the  Mississippi  river,  and 
breeds  from  Utah  northward.  It  is  rare,  however,  in  the 
Atlantic  and  Gulf  States.  A  white  pelican  was  taken 
several  years  ago  near  Livingston,  Alabama.  Captain 
J.  W.  A.  Wright,  of  Livingston,  mounted  the  specimen. 
I  have  never  seen  the  white  pelican;  but  on  Sept.  20, 
1892,  I  took  two  specimens  of  the  brown  pelican  (Pele- 
canus  fucus)  near  Fort  Morgan,  on  the  Gulf  of  Mexico. 
I  found  the  brown  pelican  common  all  along  the  coast, 
from  Perdido  Bay  to  Dauphin  Island."  (1893a). 

12.     LOPHODYTES  CUCULLATUS   (Linnaeus). 

HOODED  MERGANSER. 

"Slimmer  Duck." 

"Not  common;  winter  resident"  (1890d).  This  bird 
should  be  found  breeding  in  Hale  county  in  favorable 
places.  Broods  of  young  have  been  observed  in  Autauga 
county. 

13.     ANAS  PLATYRHYNCHOS   (Linnaeus). 

MALLARD. 
"Greenhead." 

"Common;  winter  resident."  (1890d). 

14.     ANAS  RUBRIPES    (Brewster). 

BLACK  DUCK. 
"Black  Mallard." 

"Rare;  winter  resident."  (189Cd). 

15.     MARECA  AMERICANA  (Gmelin). 
BALDPATE. 

Writing  of  the  pintail  in  a  letter  to  the  American  Field, 
Dr.  Avery  stated  "This  duck  appears  here  (Greensboro) 
about  the  first  of  March,  with  the  blue-wing  teal,  the 
bald  pate  and  the  blue-wing  shoveller."  (1884).  Six 
years  later  he  wrote,  "Seen  occasionally  fall  and  spring." 
(1890d). 

16.     NETTION  CAROLINENSE    (Gmelin). 
GREEN-WINGED  TEAL. 

"Once  abundant,  now  rarely  seen.  Winter  resident." 
(1890d).  This  statement  must  be  taken  as  comparative, 


24        GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF  ALABAMA 

for  the  green-winged  teal  is  still  one  of  the  common  ducks 
in  Alabama. 

17.     QUERQUEDULA  DISCORS  (Linnseus). 
BLUE-WINGED  TEAL. 

The  first  mention  made  of  this  species  by  Dr.  Avery 
was  incidental,  in  writing  of  the  pintail,  and  the  quota- 
tion will  be  found  under  that  species.  He  states  in  this 
article  that  the  blue-winged  teal  appears  at  Greensboro 
about  March  1st,  but  in  his  original  notes  for  1886  there 
is  a  record  of  the  bird  on  Sept.  10th,  and  in  1891  this 
note  appears  under  date  of  Sept.  14th :  "A  flock  of  blue- 
winged  teal  were  reported  at  Cocke's  Pond,  of  which  Mr. 
Cocke  bagged  two."  "Once  common,  now  seldom  seen. 
Winter  resident."  (1890d). 

No.   1082.     Female.   Greensboro.   Oct.   9,   1893.  W   C.  Avery. 

18.     SPATULA  CLYPEATA    (Linnseus). 
SHOVELLER. 

For  first  mention  of  this  species  see  note  under  Dafila 
acuta.  "Seen  in  the  spring,  never  in  large  numbers,  but 
in  bunches  of  six  to  eight  at  the  highest."  (1890d). 

19.     DAFILA   ACUTA    (Linnseus). 
PINTAIL. 

"March  2nd  I  saw  and  obtained  a  specimen  of  Dafila 
acuta  (Pintail.)  Have  heard  of  others  being  shot.  This 
duck  appears  here  about  the  first  of  March,  with  the 
blue-wing  teal,  the  bald  pate  and  the  blue-wing  shovel- 
ler." (1884.)"  Once  abundant  during  spring  and  autumn 
migrations;  but,  like  all  ducks,  growing  yearly  scarcer 
in  this  country."  (1890d). 

20.     AIX  SPONSA  (Linnseus). 

WOOD  DUCK. 
"Summer  Duck." 

"Once  abundant,  now  not  at  all  common.  Twenty-five 
years  ago,  in  September,  I  saw  one  morning  at  least 
three  hundred  of  these  ducks  come  at  dawn,  to  feed  in 
a  pond,  at  Millwood,  on  the  Warrior  River,  ten  miles 


AVERY  BIRD   COLLECTION  25 

west  of  Greensboro.     Now  for  a  whole  year  not  half  of 
that  number  could  be  found  in  that  locality."  (1890d). 

No.  1006.  Male.  Warrior  River,  Greensboro.  Dec.  2,  1892.  W. 
C.  Avery. 

No.  1007.  Female.  Warrior  River,  Greensboro.  Dec.  3,  1892. 
W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  1008.  Male.  Warrior  River,  Greensboro.  Dec.  3,  1892.  W. 
C.  Avery. 

21.     MARILA  AMERICANA  (Eyton). 
REDHEAD. 

"About  ten  years  ago  common  in  the  Cypress  Slough, 
near  Millwood,  on  the  Warrior  River.  Has  not  been 
seen  for  eight  or  ten  years."  (1890d). 

22.     MARILA  MARILA    (Linnaeus). 
SCAUP  DUCK. 

"Common  on  the  Warrior  River.  Winter  resident." 
(1890d). 

23.     MARILA  AFFINIS  (Eyton). 
LESSER  SCAUP  DUCK. 

"Has  not  been  seen  for  ten  years ;  once  common  during 
migrations."  (1890d). 

No.  908  (805)  Female.  Warrior  River.  Greensboro.  Nov.  7,  1890. 
Cy  Jones. 

24.     BRANTA    CANADENSIS    CANADENSIS     (Linnjeus). 
CANADA  GOOSE. 

"Rare.  Winter  resident."  (1890d). 

25.     MYCTERIA  AMERICANA   (Linnaeus). 
WOOD  IBIS. 

Dr.  Avery's  original  notes  show  that  he  took  one  of 
these  birds  at  Cocke's  Pond,  five  miles  west  of  Greens- 
boro, July  26,  1891,  though  unfortunately  the  specimen 
is  not  now  in  the  collection.  He  writes :  "This  bird  has 
been  seen  several  times  but  never  collected  till  this  speci- 
men and  hence  never  with  certainty  identified.  When  it 
was  seen  some  years  ago  at  Cocke's  Pond  it  was  then  sup- 
posed to  be  the  wood  stork  or  ibis."  His  supposition 
seems  to  have  been  correct. 


26  GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF  ALABAMA 


26.     BOTAURUS  LENTIGINOSUS    (Montagu). 
BITTERN. 

"Not  common.     Spring  migrant."    (1890d). 

No.  818.  Male.  5  mi.  W.  of  Uniontown.  Mar.  28,  1891.  W.  C. 
Avery. 

27.     ARDEA  HERODIAS   (Linnseus). 

GREAT  BLUE  HERON. 

"Big  Blue  Crane." 

"Common.  Resident.  Breeds."  (1890d).  Under  date 
of  Sept.  21,  1892,  Dr.  Avery  wrote  in  his  note  book: 
"Great  blue  heron  seen  frequently  on  Perdido  Bay  and 
along  the  Gulf  Coast."  These  birds  were  probably  sub- 
species wardi.  A  specimen  taken  Nov.  26,  1913,  by  Pratt 
Thomas  on  the  Black  Warrior  River,  near  University, 
Ala.,  is  referable  to  herodias. 

28.     HERODIAS  EGRETTA  (Gmelin). 

EGRET. 
"White  Crane." 

In  1884  Dr.  Avery  published  the  following  record  of 
this  species:  "There  (Cocke's  Pond,  five  miles  west  of 
Greensboro)  I  shot  last  spring  a  beautiful  specimen  of 
the  great  white  egret,  Ardea  egretta"  (1884).  Six 
years  later  he  writes :  "Rare.  I  have  a  specimen  in  my  col- 
lection which  was  shot  at  Cocke's  Mill  Pond,  five  miles 
west  of  Greensboro;  I  have  seen  two  others.  My  speci- 
men is  labeled  August  14.  The  other  two  were  seen  in 
the  spring."  (1890d). 

No.  183.     Female.     Greensboro.  Aug.  14,  1889.  W.  C.  Avery. 

29.  EGRETTA  CANDIDISSIMA  CANDIDISSIMA   (Gmelin). 
SNOWY  EGRET. 

A  specimen  of  this  species  was  taken  in  Greene  County, 
July  1,  1889,  and  mounted  by  Dr.  Avery  for  John  Cocke, 
Jr.,  of  Cockeville. 

30.     FLORIDA  CvERULE A  (Linngeus). 
LITTLE  BLUE  HERON. 

"Common.     Summer  resident."  (1890d). 

No.  186.  Male.  Millwood,  near  Greensboro.  Aug.  16,  1889.  W. 
C.  Avery. 


AVERY  BIRD   COLLECTION  27 


31.  BUTORIDES  VIRESCENS  VIRESCENS   (Linnseus). 

GREEN  HERON. 
"Fly-Up-The-Creek." 

"The  first  recorded  specimen  of  this  heron  was  shot 
June  9,  1888,  while  "flying  down  the  Walton  Bottom" 
near  Greensboro.  Its  stomach  was  filled  with  crawfish. 

Common.     Summer  resident.     Breeds."    (1890d). 

No.  171.  Male,  hornot.  Greensboro.  July  12,  1889.  W.  C. 
Avery. 

No.  869.     Sex   (?).     Greensboro.  June  24,  1891.     W.  C.  Avery. 
Odd  specimen  with  no  label. 

32.  NYCTICORAX  NYCTICORAX  N^EVIUS    (Boddsert). 

BLACK-CROWNED  NIGHT  HERON. 

In  his  original  notes,  Dr.  Avery  records  this  bird  near 
Greensboro,  Sept.  6,  1886,  but  for  some  reason  omitted 
the  record  from  his  "Birds  Observed  in  Alabama,"  pub- 
lished in  1890. 

33.     NYCTANASSA  VIOLACEA  (Linnseus). 
YELLOW-CROWNED  NIGHT  HERON. 

July  1,  1879,  recording  the  capture  of  one  of  these  her- 
ons, Dr.  Avery  wrote:  "This  bird  lit  in  a  cedar  (in  the 
back  yard)  where  the  fowls  had  gone  to  roost.  It  was 
killed  after  sunset."  Eleven  years  later  he  published  this 
note:  "Not  common.  A  specimen  in  my  collection  is  la- 
beled Aug.  12.".(1890d). 

No.  185.     Female.     Greensboro.  Aug.  12,  1889.  W.  C.  Avery. 

34.  GRUS  AMERICANA   (Linnseus). 

WHOOPING  CRANE. 

"Rare.  Seen  many  years  ago  in  the  Cypress  Slough, 
Millwood."  (1890d). 

35.  RALLUS  ELEGANS   (Audubon). 

KING  RAIL. 

Concerning  this  bird,  Dr.  Avery  in  1888  published  the 
following : 

"On  the  24th  of  March  I  met  three  small  boys  who 
were  returning  from  the  field  with  dogs  and  guns.  Be- 
sides a  half  dozen  hares  which  one  of  them  carried  on  a 


28        GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF  ALABAMA 

string  over  his  shoulder,  was  a  king  rail  (R.  elegans) 
tied  by  the  leg  and  in  the  hands  of  one  of  the  boys. 

"'It  seems  that  the  rail  had  been  pointed  by  their  dog, 
flushed  and  shot  at.  She  returned  immediately,  however, 
to  the  spot  where  she  had  been  flushed  first,  and  allowed 
herself  to  be  captured  by  the  boys.  I  asked  permission 
of  the  owner  to  examine  the  bird,  and  oberving  a  protub- 
erance near  the  vent,  I  pressed  it,  and  received  in  my 
hand  a  mature  egg.  This  egg  measures  1.54  by  1.22.  The 
ground  color  is  dull  white,  blotched  and  spotted  with 
rusty  brown,  also  specks  of  the  same  color  and  indistinct 
spots  of  lilac.  The  brown  spots  are  largest  and  irregu- 
larly scattered  over  the  surface.  They  vary  in  size  from 
fifteen  hundredths  to  the  one  hundredth  of  an  inch  in 
diameter.  I  returned  to  the  marsh  with  one  of  the  boys, 
who  not  being  able  to  locate  the  tussock  of  bulrush  where 
they  had  captured  the  rail,  our  search  for  the  nest  was 
fruitless."  (1888). 

Two  years  later  he  wrote:  "Not  common.  Resident. 
Breeds."  (1890d). 

No.  327.     Male.  Greensboro.  Dec.  23,  1889.  W.  C.  Avery. 
No.  853.     Male.  Greensboro.  May  23,  1891.     W.  C.  Avery 

36.     PORZANA   CAROLINA    (Linnaeus). 

SORA. 

Recorded  by  the  Doctor  at  Greensboro,  Oct.  10,  1888. 
Another  entry  in  his  original  note  books  reads :  "A  sin- 
gle individual  of  the  sora  was  seen  and  taken  on  Dauph- 
in Island,  Sept.  21,  1892." 

"Rare.  Occurs  during  autumn  and  spring  migra- 
tions." (1890d). 

No.  1028.     Male.  Greensboro.  Mar.  11,  1893.     W.   C.  Avery. 
No.  1029.     Female.  Greensboro.  Mar.  11,  1893.     W.  C  Avery. 

37.     COTURNICOPS   NOVEBORACENSIS    (Gmelin). 
YELLOW  RAIL. 

In  consulting  the  entry  in  the  Doctor's  original  cata- 
logue of  the  specimen  cited  below,  this  note  was  found 
which  serves  to  show  his  view  of  a  certain  phase  of 
nomenclature:  "My  first  record  of  the  yellow  crake. 
In  looking  up  the  name  of  this  bird  I  find  that  the  A.  0. 


AVERY  BIRD   COLLECTION  29 

U.  have  adopted  the  appellation  rail  instead  of  crake 
used  by  Dr.  Coues.  Now  it  is  very  desirable  that  we 
should  have  generic  names  as  precise  as  possible.  Why 
not  translate  Porzana  (Coturnicops  was  then  included  un- 
der Porzana)  as  crake  and  Rallies  rail?" 

No.  964.  Male.  10  mi.  S.  of  Greensboro.  Dec.  19,  1891.  W.  C. 
Avery. 

38.     FULICA  AMERICANA  (Gmelin). 
COOT. 

In  1886  Dr.  Avery  published  an  article  in  the  "Orni- 
thologist and  Oologist"  entitled,  "Migration  of  the  Coot," 
and  four  years  later  used  much  of  the  same  material  in 
his  list  which  appeared  in  the  "American  Field."  How- 
ever, it  is  considered  worth  while  to  republish  here  both 
notes  in  full. 

"A  fact  relative  to  the  migration  of  the  coot  (Fidica 
americana),  known  here  by  the  French  name,  Poule-d* 
eau,  may,  perhaps,  be  worth  recording.  About  the  mid- 
dle of  April,  1885,  as  I  was  going  out  of  the  house,  at  sun- 
rise, my  attention  was  attracted  to  a  bird  sitting  within 
a  few  feet  of  the  porch.  It  proved  to  be  a  coot.  Instead 
of  trying  to  escape,  as  any  other  bird  would  have  done, 
when  I  extended  my  hand  to  catch  it,  the  poule-de'eau 
showed  fight.  I  confined  it  in  a  chicken-coop  in  the 
yard,  and  supplied  it  with  some  corn-bread  and  water. 
If  it  ever  ate  or  drank  while  in  my  possession,  I  was  not 
aware  of  the  fact.  It  took,  to  my  knowledge,  neither 
food  nor  water.  It  seemed  to  spend  every  minute  of  the 
day  and  night  in  perpetual  motion.  Its  efforts  were  not 
in  vain. 

"  'Omnia  vincit  improbus  labor,'  was,  doubtless,  the 
motto  of  my  prisoner.  By  thrusting  the  head  and  neck 
through  every  opening  within  reach,  the  restless  bird  at 
last  forced  off  a  slat  and  recovered  its  freedom.  On  the 
third  day  after  it  had  been  placed  in  'durance  vile/  I 
saw  it  standing  on  top  of  its  prison  pluming  itself.  I 
advanced  towards  it,  expecting  to  capture  it  again.  Imag- 
ine my  surprise  when  it  rose  on  strong  pinions,  flying 
high  and  going  in  a  northerly  direction,  as  far  as  I  could 
see  it.  This  was  not  the  first  time  that  I  had  seen  in 


30        GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF  ALABAMA 

the  spring  this,  to  me,  apparently  silly  bird  offering  bat- 
tle to  its  captor.  I  had  believed  that  'coot'  and  fool  were 
justly  synonymous. 

"The  coot  has  been  slandered;  it  does  not  fly  because 
it  cannot  fly.  Not  because  it  wants  the  sense  of  danger, 
but  because  it  has  not  the  power  to  escape,  does  it  allow 
itself  to  be  taken,  when  it  drops  exhausted,  on  its  long 
migratory  flight,  and  rests  till  its  tired  wings  have  re- 
covered strength  to  bear  it  onward."  (1886a). 

"Spring  and  autumn  migrant.  Among  the  various 
names  given  to  this  bird  is  that  of  'fool  hen/  'Coot'  is 
also  a  synonym  of  stupidity.  I  believe  this  to  be  a  slan- 
der on  this  bird.  Some  years  ago,  as  I  stepped  out  of 
doors  early  one  morning,  I  found  a  coot  seated  under 
the  edge  of  the  steps.  It  made  no  effort  to  escape,  as  it 
was  exhausted,  and  had  fallen  there  to  rest  during  the 
night.  I  kept  it  confined  in  a  coop  for  several  days; 
most  of  the  time  was  spent  by  it,  night  and  day,  in  the 
endeavor  to  escape;  it  finally  pushed  off  a  slat  from  the 
coop,  and  I  found  it  seated  there  pluming  its  feathers. 
On  seeing  me  approach  to  recapture  it,  it  took  wings 
and  flew  northward,  and  went  in  that  direction  as  far  a° 
the  eye  could  reach.  On  October  29  last  a  specimen  of 
this  bird  was  brought  to  me;  it  is  now  in  my  collection. 
It  lay  in  a  fence  corner  where  it  had  fallen  and  was* 
resting  to  resume  its  migration  southward.  It  did  not 
try  to  escape,  but  simply  pecked  at  the  hand  of  its  cap- 
tor. It  could  not  fly,  and  did  not  make  the  attempt. 
Instead  of  being  a  'fool/  it  acted  wisely,  as  escape  was 
impossible."  (1890d). 

No.  800.     Female.     Greensboro.  Oct.  29,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

39.     PHILOCHELA  MINOR  (Gmelin). 
WOODCOCK. 

"The  woodcock  is  not  a  common  bird  in  this  part  of 
Alabama  (Hale  County)  and  for  that  very  reason  it  is 
more  prized  by  the  sportsman  here  than  any  other  species 
of  game,  not  even  the  Bob  White  excepted. 

"Very  few  woodcocks  are  found  in  the  black  lands; 
but  in  the  willow  thickets,  and  swamps  of  the  northern 


AVERY  BIRD   COLLECTION  31 

part  of  Hale  County,  with  a  dog  trained  to  hunt  them, 
the  shooter  might  bag  half  a  dozen  of  these  interesting 
birds  in  a  day.  There  are  many  more  of  them  always 
than  one  would  suppose,  as  they  escape  notice  by  their 
retired  habits.  The  almost  impenetrable  briar  patches 
and  slouglis,  where  they  lie  concealed  till  twilight,  save 
many  of  them  from  the  bird  bag.  At  that  hour  of  the 
day  the  whistle  of  their  wings  may  be  heard  as  they  pass 
swiftly  by  to  their  feeding  grounds  in  tne  open  fields. 
They  are  mute  till  the  nesting  season,  which  begins  here 
early  in  February.  Then  they  are  quite  a  noisy  bird. 
The  male  makes  his  whereabouts  known  at  that  time  by 
ascending  on  sounding  pinions,  just  before  night,  and, 
suspended  several  hundred  feet  above  some  open  land, 
cotton  or  corn  field,  now  bare,  he  plays  fantastic  tunes 
before  high  Heaven.  The  observer  might  mistake  these 
tunes,  which  the  woodcock  plays  with  his  wings,  for 
songs ;  but  he  cannot  produce  a  musical  sound  except  with 
his  wings,  which  are  the  Aeolian-harp,  and  the  primaries 
or  pinions  are  the  strings  of  that  harp,  whose  vibrations 
are  very  similar  to  the  sounds  produced  by  running  the 
fingers  over  the  strings  of  a  guitar. 

"When  this  aerial  performance,  which  lasts  for  several 
minutes,  is  ended,  he  falls  headlong  to  the  ground,  and 
so  rapidly  that  he  is  generally  secure  from  any  untimely 
shot  that  might  be  intended  for  him. 

"Now  begins  his  call  to  his  dusky  partner.  There  is  no 
music  in  that  'spake'  followed  by  a  dissyllable  so  low  and 
whispered  that  it  can  be  heard  only  at  a  few  feet  distant, 
'gooduck!'  All  is  silent;  then  comes  another  'spake!  goo- 
duck  !'  This  is  certainly  not  musical ;  but  it  answers  the 
purpose  of  a  song  and  serves  to  attract  the  female. 

"Woodcocks  were  'soaring'  and  'spaking'  here  on  the 
sixth  of  last  February — 'spaking,'  as  the  Irishman  would 
say,  to  their  fair  companions.  Is  there  a  shooter — I  will 
not  say  a  sportsman — who  kills  woodcocks  here  in  the 
South  in  February?  If  there  is,  he  is  not  a  sportsman, 
but  an  assassin."  (1890a). 

In  Dr.  Avery's  original  note  books,  under  date  of  Feb. 
23,  1893,  is  the  following  entry: 


32        GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF  ALABAMA 

"Took  a  nest  of  woodcock  on  the  edge  of  a  swamp  next 
to  Hopewell  Branch.  Set  of  4;  incubation  slight.  Nest 
was  about  6  inches  above  the  level  of  the  marsh.  Mater- 
ial: leaves  and  pine  straw.  The  old  bird  was  pointed  on 
the  nest  by  my  setter  'Jeff  Bo,'  and  I  flushed  and  fortu- 
nately missed  it  when  I  fired,  not  being  aware  that  she 
was  sitting — reflection,  woodcock  should  not  be  shot  in 
Alabama  after  the  middle  of  January." 

No.  291.     Female.     Greensboro.   Dec.  3,   1889.   Gaillard  Harvey. 

40.     GALLINAGO  DELICATA  (Ord.) 

WILSON'S  SNIPE. 

"Snipe." 

The  earliest  record  found  of  this  species  is  a  note 
dated  Jan.  17,  1878,  giving  measurements  of  an  adult 
male  taken  at  Greensboro.  It  reads  further,  "I  have  shot 
snipe  as  early  as  the  middle  of  September;  they  gener- 
ally appear  late  in  the  fall  and  are  abundant  till  April." 

"Gallinago  wilsonii  has  been  abundant  since  the  latter 
part  of  February.  Wilson's  snipe  is  always  on  the  move 
here;  hundreds  appear  at  times  and  after  remaining  a 
few  days  suddenly  disappear.  A  few,  however,  spend  the 
winter  here."  (1884). 

"Spring  and  autumn  migrant.  Once  abundant ;  now  not 
common."  (1890d). 

The  following  appears  among  the  Doctor's  original 
notes  for  1891 :  "September  12 :  Wilson's  snipe  were  seen 
i.t  Cocke's  Pond  September  14 ;  four  or  five  Wilson's  snipe 
were  seen  at  Cocke's  Pond  and  one  was  bagged  by  Mr. 
Cocke's  son  Webb.  September  16;  collected  at  Cocke's 
Pond  two  yellow  shanks  (Totanus  flavipes)  ;  also  Wil- 
son's snipe  (Gallin&go  delicata) ." 

On  the  label  of  the  specimen  listed  below  was  found  the 
interesting  bit  of  information  that  the  "stomach  contain- 
ed two  leeches." 

No.  987.     Female.  Greensboro.  Mar.  19,  1892.     W.   C.  Avery. 

41.     PISOBIA  MACULATA    (Vieillot). 
PECTORAL  SANDPIPER. 

"Not  common.     Spring  migrant."  1890d). 


AVERY  BIRD  COLLECTION  33- 


"Several  pectoral  sandpipers  were  observed  on  Dau- 
phin Island,  Sept.  21,  1892.''  (Original  notes). 

No.  996.     Male.  Dauphin  Id.  Sept.  21,  1892.     W.  C.  Avery. 
No.  997.     Male  (?).     Dauphin  Id.     Sept.  21,  1892.     W  C.  Avery. 
No.  998.     Female.     Dauphin  Id.     Sept.  21,  1892.     W.  C.  Avery. 
No.  1030.     Male.  Greensboro.  Mar.  25,  1893.     W.  C.  Avery. 
No.  1031.     Male.  Greensboro.     Mar.  25,  1893.     W.  C.  .Avery. 
No.  1045.     Female.  Greensboro.  Apr.  15,  1893.     W.  C  Avery 

42.  PISOBIA  FUSICOLLIS  (Vieillot). 

WHITE-RUMPED  SANDPIPER. 

"Not  common.  Spring  migrant.  Two  specimens  tak- 
en May  26,  1888."  (1890d). 

No.  858.  Female.  Cocke's  Pond,  Greensboro.  May  30,  1891.  W. 
C.  Avery. 

No.  860.  Female.  Cocke's  Pond,  Greensboro,  May  30,  1891.  W. 
C.  Avery.  i,.o  •• 

No.  861.  Male.  Cocke's  Pond,  Greensboro,  May  30,  1891.  W.  C. 
Avery. 

No.  862a.  Female.  Cocke's  Pond,  Greensboro.  May  30,  1891. 
W.  C.  Avery. 

43.  PISOBIA  MINUTILLA  (Vieillot). 

LEAST  SANDPIPER. 
"Peep." 

"Several  seen  on  the  Island  (Dauphin)  Sept.  21,  1892." 
(Original  notes). 

No.  837a.     Male.  Greensboro,  May  9,  1891.     W.  C.  Avery. 
No.  840.     Female.  Greensboro,  May  9,  1891.     W.  C.  Avery. 
No.  849.     Female.  Greensboro,  May  16,  1891.     W.  C.  Avery. 
No.  851   (?).     Male.  Greensboro,  May  16,  1891.     W.  C.  Avery. 
No.  853  (?).     Male.  Greensboro,  May  16,  1891.     W.  C.  Avery. 

44.     EREUNETES  PUSILLUS    (Linnseus).  j 
SEMIPALMATED  SANDPIPER. 

"Not  common.  Spring  migrant.  A  specimen,  May 
26,  1888."  (1890d). 

No.  859.     Male.  Greensboro.  May  30,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 
No.  862.     Male.  Greensboro.  May  30,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

45.     CALIDRIS    LEUCOPH^EA    (Pallas). 
SANDERLING. 

The  only  mention  of  the  sanderling  is  under  date  of 
Sept.  21,  1892,  in  the  Doctor's  original  notes.  He  writes: 
"Sanderling  common  on  the  Gulf  Shore  of  Baldwin 

2— AB 


34        GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF  ALABAMA 


(County)  ;  many  were  shot  here    and    on    Dauphin  Is- 
land." 

No.  1035.  Baldwin  Co.,  near  mouth  of  Perdido  Bay.  Sept.  21, 
1892.  W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  1036.  Baldwin  Co.,  near  mouth  of  Perdido  Bay.  Sept.  21, 
1892.  W.  C.  Avery. 

46.     LIMOSA  FEDOA  (Linnaeus). 
MARBLED  GODWIT. 

In  1884  Dr.  Avery  published  the  following  note  on  this 
Species  in  a  miscellaneous  article  addressed  to  the  Editor 
of  the  American  Field:  "I  will  mention  in  this  connec- 
tion, that  in  1880,  in  the  spring,  I  shot  a  rare  bird  in  this 
county — the  great  marbled  godwit,  (Limosa  fedoa).  It 
was  feeding  in  the  mud  of  a  mill-pond,  the  dam  of  which 
had  just  broken.  My  attention  was  attracted  by  the 
peculiar  manner  in  which  the  bird  was  feeding,  thrusting 
its  long  bill  up  to  its  eyes  in  the  mud,  while  its  tail  de- 
scribed an  arc  of  ninety  degrees.  This  pond,  abut  five 
mile  west  of  Greensboro,  is  a  favorite  resort  for  birds  of 
the  snipe  family  and  water-fowl  during  the  Spring  and 
Fall  migrations."  (1884). 

Evidently  speaking  of  the  same  individual,  he  wrote 
six  years  later :  "A  specimen  was  taken  at  Cocke's  Mill- 
pond,  several  years  ago  during  the  spring  migration. 
Three  only  seen."  (1890d). 

47.     TOTANUS   MELANOLEUCUS    (Gmelin). 
GREATER  YELLOW-LEGS. 

"Not  common.  Spring  and  autumn  migrant."  (1890d). 
"Dauphin  Island,  Sep.  21    (1891)  ;  several  observed." 
(Original  notes). 

48.     TOTANUS  FLAVIPES   (Gmelin). 
YELLOW-LEGS. 

"March  15th,  saw  and  shot  Totanus  flavipes  (lesser 
yellow  shanks)."  (1884). 

"Not  common.  Spring  and  Autumn  migrant."  (1890d). 

"Collected  at  Cocke's  Pond  two  yellow  shanks  (Totanus 
flavipes)  ;  also  Wilson's  snipe  (Gallinago  delicata) .  The 


AVERY  BIRD   COLLECTION  35 

yellow  shanks  were  the  first  seen  this  fall."    (Original 
notes.  Sept.  16,  1891.) 

"Several  were  taken  on  the  Island  (Dauphin)  on  the 
21st  (Sept.  1892)."  (Original  notes). 

No.  838.     Female.  Greensboro.  May  9,  1891.     W.  C.  Avery. 
No.  839.     Male.  Greensboro.  May  9,   1891.     W.  C.  Avery. 

49.     HELODROMAS  SOLITARIUS  SOLITARIUS   (Wilson). 
SOLITARY  SANDPIPER. 

"Common.  Spring  and  Autumn  migrant.  In  my  col- 
lection is  a  specimen  of  this  bird  with  label  bearing  date 
August  25,  1888 ;  collected  two  miles  west  of  Greensboro. 
One  peculiarity  of  this  wader  is  that  it  sometimes  perches 
upon  stumps  or  fences,  near  its  feeding  grounds."  (1890d) 

No.  465.     Male.     Greensboro.  April  19,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 
No.  481.     Male.  Greensboro.  April  26,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 
No.  941.     Female.     Greensboro.  Sept.  29,  1891.     W.  C.  Avery. 
No.  1059.     Male.     Greensboro.  May  4,  1893.     W.  C.  Avery. 

50.  CATOPTROPHORUS  SEMIPALMATUS  (Gmelin), 

WlLLET. 

Under  Symphemia  semipcdmata  in  Dr.  Avery's  notes 
appears : 

"Willets  were  observed  on  the  Island  (Dauphin)  on 
the  21st  (Sept.  1892)  ;  but  none  were  captured." 


(51.     BARTRAMIA  LONGICAUDA  (Bechstein). 
UPLAND  PLOVER. 

"Not  common.     Spring  migrant."     (1890d). 


52.     ACTITIS    MACULARIA    (Linnseus). 

SPOTTED  SANDPIPER. 

"Peetweet." 

"March  21,  saw  Tringoides  macularius  (Spotted  Sand- 
piper)." (1884). 

"Summer  resident.     Not  common."  (1890d). 

No.  116.  Male.  Greensboro.  Apr.  26,  1889.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  841.  Female.  Greensboro.  May  9,  1891.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  850.  Male.  Greensboro.  May  16,  1891.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  852.  Male.  Greensboro.  May  16,  1891.     W.  C.  Avery. 


36  GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF  ALABAMA 


53.     NUMENIUS  AMERICANUS    (Bechstein). 
LONG-BILLED  CURLEW. 

The  only  mention  of  this  species  in  Dr.  Avery's  notes 
follows : 

"Sept.  21,  1892.  Numenins  longirostris,  Long-billed 
curlew,  seen  on  Dauphin  Island." 

54.     SQUATAROLA  SQUATAROLA  (Linnaeus). 
BLACK-BELLIED  PLOVER. 

"Some  specimens  were  obtained  several  years  ago  at 
Cocke's  Millpond.  None  seen  since  that  time."  (1890d.) 

55.     OXYECHUS  VOCIFERUS   (Linnaeus). 

KlLLDEER. 

"The  killdeer  is  a  common  bird  in  Alabama.  It  resides 
here  during  the  whole  year,  and  is  the  only  one  of  the 
plover  family,  &o  far  as  I  know,  which  builds  its  nest,  or 
I  should  say — for  it  lays  on  the  bare  ground — rears  its 
young  in  this  vicinity.  It  lays  several  eggs  on  the  ground. 
The  young  are  what  ornithologists  call  'precoces,'  or 
precocious,  that  is,  running  about  like  little  chickens  as 
soon  as  hatched.  It  goes  in  large  bands  sometimes  in 
the  winter;  and  may  be  found  in  low  muddy  places  or 
upon  old  commons  or  bare  fields."  (Original  notes.  June 
7,  1876).  The  stomach  of  a  specimen  taken  on  the  day 
of  this  entry  was  reported  to  contain  insects. 

"Resident.  Common.  Breeds.  A  favorite  nesting 
site  of  this  species  is  on  the  'bed'  of  a  cotton  or  corn  row, 
where  it  remains  undisturbed  by  the  laborer,  save  to 
frighten  it  off  the  nest  once  or  twice  while  it  is  incu- 
bating, as  he  works  his  growing  crop."  (1890d). 

No.  233.     Female.  Greensboro.  Oct.  5,  1889.     W.  C.  Avery. 
No.   827.     Male.     Greensboro.   May  2,   1891.     W.   C.   Avery. 
No.  828.     Male.     Greensboro.  May  2,  1891.     W.  C.  Avery. 

56.     COLINUS  VIRGINIANUS  VIRGINIANUS    (Linnaeus). 

BOB-WHITE. 
"Quail"     "Partridge." 

"On  reading  the  experience  of  M.  E.  Allison  with  a  Bob 
White  I  was  reminded  of  an  instance  of  a  similar  nature 
of  the  devotion  of  a  male  Bob  White  to  his  family  duties. 


AVERY  BIRD   COLLECTION  37 

Two  years  ago,  in  June,  my  friend,  Dr.  J.  M.  Pickett,  an 
enthusiastic  naturalist  and  a  close  observer  of  birds,  in- 
formed me  that  a  male  Bob  White  had  been  incubating 
for  some  days,  and  that  he  constantly  occupied  the  nest. 
Desiring  to  be  an  eye  witness  of  this  to  me  unusual  fact, 
1  accompanied  the  Doctor  to  the  oatfield,  where  the  nest 
was  to  be  found.  After  a  short  search,  he  walking  ug 
one  land  and  I  another,  I  almost  trod  on  the  devoted  pat> 
er-familias,  when  he  fluttered  from  the  nest  and  stood 
eyeing  me  suspiciously,  a  few  feet  off.  I  could  not  be  mis- 
taken as  to  the  sex ;  the  white  markings  of  the  head  and 
the  white  throat  attested  it.  After  a  few  seconds  he  flew 
off  to  the  adjoining  woods,  leaving  a  dozen  white  eggs 
which,  in  spite  of  his  assiduous  care,  were  not  to  be 
warmed  into  life.  He  sat  upon  them  so  long  afterward 
that  Doctor  Pickett,  suspecting  they  were  spoiled,  broke 
one  of  them,  and  finding  they  could  not  be  hatched,  de- 
stroyed them  all,  and  put  an  end  to  the  useless  incubation. 
The  female  had  evidently  been  killed,  and  the  male  return- 
ing to  the  unoccupied  nest  had  taken  the  place  of  his  mate, 
and  filled  it,  till  the  eggs  were  destroyed."  (1889c). 

"Abundant  still.  Resident.  Non-migratory.  Breeds 
from  first  of  May  'till  first  of  October.  Several  broods 
reared  by  one  pair.  The  male  assists  in  incubation.  Tt 
has  been  recorded  by  me,  in  a  previous  issue  of  the  Amer- 
ican Field,  that  a  male  Bob  White  was  found  incubating 
by  Dr.  J.  M.  Pickett,  of  Cedarville,  Alabama.  I  rode  six 
miles  to  witness  this  novel  sight.  The  Doctor  visited  the 
nest  frequently  for  several  weeks,  and  finding  that  the 
eggs  would  not  hatch,  he  destroyed  them  and  relieved  this 
faithful  pater-familias  from  his  hopeless  endeavor  to  rear 
a  brood.  The  female  had  perhaps  been  killed,  and  the 
male,  finding  the  nest  unoccupied,  took  the  place  of  his 
mate,  but  after  the  eggs  were  cold  and  the  embryos  dead." 
(1890d). 

The  stomach  of  a  specimen  taken  at  Greensboro,  Nov. 
20,  1891,  "contained  peas  and  weed  seeds." 

Among  the  old  Avery  papers  on  file  in  the  State  De- 
partment of  Archives  and  History,  at  Montgomery,  is  an 
unpublished  manuscript  on  the  "Cause  of  the  Scarcity  of 
Game,"  dated  January  5,  1892.  It  is  quoted  below  in  full. 


38        GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF  ALABAMA 


"  'Dock  Lodge'  owns  a  dropper  and  shoots  partridges ; 
tells  me  he  shoots  every  day  for  two  or  three  hours,  when 
he  stops  for  dinner. 

"  'Ike  Woolen'  owns  a  setter ;  shoots  every  day. 

"Buster  Key's  son  owns  an  Irish  setter;  shoots  part- 
ridges. 

"Fred  and  Ollis  Evans  shoot  partridges ;  Fred  tells  me 
that  he  and  Willie  Brown  (colored  sportsman)  went  out 
one  day  last  year  and  killed  thirteen  partridges.  Fred 
says — and  I  believe  him — that  he  and  Willie  killed  more 
partridges  than  a  party  of  sportsmen  who  were  shooting 
the  same  day. 

"'We  kept/  said  Fred,  'in  sight  of  Mr.  Rush;  and, 
when  the  covies  were  flushed  and  scattered,  we  marked 
down  any  birds  that  flew  in  our  direction,  or  escaped  the 
notice  of  Mr.  Rush  and  his  friend ;  and  Doctor,'  continued 
Fred,  'we  killed  more  partridges  than  the  party  of  white 
men.' 

"  'Did  you  kill  them  all  on  the  wing,'  said  I. 

"  'No  sir,'  said  he,  'I  killed  three  out  of  pine  trees 
where  they  lit.' 

'"  'Can  you  shoot  partridges  well  on  the  wing?"  said  I. 

"  'Yes,'  said  Fred,  'when  a  covey  rises  I  generally  get 
one'  (I  know  that  Fred  and  Ollis  shoot  rabbits  well). 

"  'How  many  partridges  have  you  killed  this  season, 
Fred?' 

"  'Six.  I  was  hunting  rabbits,  and  the  dogs  scared 
up  the  partridges  and  I  followed  them  up  and  shot  them. 
My  dogs  never  pass  a  flock  of  partridges  without  scaring 
'em  up,  and  I  watch  and  see  where  the  birds  light,  and 
shoot  them.' 

"Asbury  McShann  testified  as  follows:  'I  have  killed 
two  partridges  this  year.' 

"  'Flying,'  said  I. 

"  'Yes,  but  they's  hard  to  kill  flying.' 

"  'How  many  times  have  you  shot,  as  near  as  you  can 
guess?' 

"  'About  a  dozen  times,'  said  Asbury. 

"Asbury  is  a  poor  boy  and  has  not  the  ammunition  to 
spare ;  yet  he  shoots  at  partridges  and  wastes  his  powder 


AVERY  BIRD   COLLECTION  39 

and  shot.  His  desire  to  become  a  wing-shot  exceeds  the 
wish  to  save  his  ammunition. 

"Sam  Gibson  (colored  sportsman),  owns  a  pointer  and 
a  breech  loader.  Sam  tells  me  that  he  has  killed  up  to 
the  first  of  January  eighty  partridges.  I  have  no  reason 
to  doubt  Sam's  word,  as  Asbury  McShann  says  that  Sam, 
at  a  single  shot,  killed  seven  birds  out  of  nine  huddled 
under  a  bush,  on  Mr.  J.  McCrary's  'Jenkins'  Place.'  Of 
the  two  birds  escaping,  one  was  badly  wounded.  I  have 
seen  Sam  shoot,  myself,  and  I  know  that  he  shoots  fairly 
well  on  the  wing. 

"Oliver  Ward,  colored  sportsman,  bought  an  Irish  set- 
ter from  John  Cocke.  Owns  a  breech  loader,  shoots  birds 
on  the  wing.  Killed  seven  on  Thanksgiving  Day.  Why 
should  not  Oliver  shoot  well?  He  has  fired  more  shots 
at  birds  since  the  emancipation  of  our  slaves  than  the 
average  white  man. 

"Jno.  Paine  (colored  sportsman)  owns  an  Irish  setter 
bitch,  purchased  from  Jno.  Cocke  for  five  dollars;  also 
other  pointing  dogs.  Oliver  Ward  informs  me  that  John 
killed  eight  or  ten  partridges  on  Thanksgiving  Day. 

"Sol  May  (colored  sportsman)  owns  a  setter  bitch  or 
dog;  at  any  rate  he  owns  a  pointing  dog,  for  I  have  seen 
it.  Sol  shoots  on  the  wing. 

"The  three  last  named  gentlemen  have  exhausted  their 
resources  of  eloquence  to  get  a  dog  from  me. 

"Now  Maus  William,  don't  you  think  you  ought  to  give 
your  old  servant  a  dog?' 

"  'My  price  is  twenty-five  dollars,'  said  I,  'for  a  puppy 
two  months  old/  But  may  ruin  overtake  me  and  may 
my  right  hand  be  palsied  when  it  receives  a  dollar  from 
a  'nigger'  for  one  of  my  noble  dogs ! 

"Sam  Lawson  shoots  partridges  on  the  wing  whenever 
he  has  the  opportunity.  This  sportsman  when  quite 
small  used  to  hold  the  horses  for  the  Cobbs  boys  when 
they  went  shooting,  and  marked  down  birds  for  them. 
Thus  he  became  enamored  of  field  sports  and  wing  shoot- 
ing especially.  Sam  hunted  many  days  during  the  sea- 
son of  '90  and  '91  with  one  of  Mr.  Cobbs'  dogs.  Having 
lived  on  the  place,  Sam  knew  the  dog,  and  thus  managed 
to  entice  him  off  either  by  firing  a  gun  in  the  neighbor- 


40  GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF  ALABAMA 

hood  or  by  whistling  him  out  of  the  yard.  This  Sam 
continued  to  do  till  he  was  detected  and  informed  that 
the  next  time  the  dog  was  taken  off  by  him  his  gun  would 
be  appropriated  by  the  owner  of  the  dog. 

"Sam  killed  a  good  many  partridges  last  season,  and  u 
to  Christmas  1891  had  bagged  more  than  the  writer  o 
these  notes. 

"Woody  Lawson  shoots  partridges  when  time  and  op- 
portunity permit.  Woody  lived  many  years  with  Dr. 
Cobbs  and  often  accompanied  him  and  the  boys  shooting, 
hence  his  love  for  wing-shooting. 

"Ellis  Ryan,  as  all  know,  shoots  partridges  and  he 
makes  heavy  bags — too  heavy,  alas !  for  sportsmen  to  get 
an  equal  share  of  game.  The  desire  to  make  big  bags 
and  to  boast  about  it  is  doing  as  much  as  any  other  thing 
to  exterminate  our  partridge.  For  my  part,  I  take  pleas- 
ure in  saying  that  I  killed  on  such  or  such  a  day  two  or 
three  or  four,  or  half  a  dozen  birds,  as  the  case  may  be. 
Though  Ellis  is  a  good  shoot,  if  he  confined  himself  to 
shooting  at  the  covey  on  the  wing  alone,  he  could  not 
get  so  many  more  birds  than  other  shooters ;  but  I  have 
hunted  with  him  and  seen  him  find  covey  after  covey  on 
the  ground,  when  his  dog  pointed.  My  presence  alone 
prevented  their  destruction. 

"I  have  mentioned  some  of  the  negro  shooters  in  and 
around  Greensboro  who  have  taken  to  wing-shooting,  to 
show  that  the  scarcity  of  birds  may  be  easily  accounted 
for  when  we  take  into  consideration  the  fact  that  the  ne- 
gro, having  exterminated  the  squirrel,  has  turned  his  at- 
tention to  poor  little  Bob  White ;  and  I  fear  greatly  that 
this  game  little  fellow  must  soon  go  the  way  of  the 
squirrel. 

"It  is  not  only  around  Greensboro,  but,  if  what  the 
negroes  themselves  tell  me  can  be  believed,  everywhere  in 
the  Blackbelt  they  are  shooting  partridges. 

"It  was  not  without  cause  last  year,  that,  discovering 
this  widespread  and  increasing  pursuit  (with  gun  and 
dog)  of  our  little  game  bird,  I  felt  that  his  destruction 
was  not  far  off,  though  it  has  come  much  sooner  than  I 
expected. 


AVERY  BIRD   COLLECTION  41 

"I  crossed  the  river  at  Erie  last  year  and  found  the 
covies  in  Greene  County  very  small,  and  far  between. 
Mr.  Tunstall  had  been  shooting  there,  it  was  told  me.  The 
truth  is,  the  negroes  were  shooting  and  trapping  the 
birds.  Mr.  Tunstall  nor  any  other  single  shooter  could 
perceptibly  diminish  the  number  of  birds  from  Millwood 
to  Erie,  even  if  he  had  hunted  every  day.  'Many  mickles 
make  a  muckle'  as  the  Scotch  say;  it  is  this  everlasting 
'shooting  of  the  many' — even  though  the  average  of  game 
killed  to  the  gun  be  small — that  must  wipe  out  our  game 
and  put  an  end  to  sport  with  gun  and  dog,  unless  some 
means  can  be  devised  to  protect  the  birds. 

"The  drought  has  been  alleged  as  the  cause  of  the  scar- 
city of  birds  this  year,  but  I  think  I  have  stated  the  true 
cause,  which  will  continue  in  the  future,  no  matter 
whether  the  seasons  are  wet  or  dry,  favorable  or  un- 
favorable, if  some  law  is  not  passed  to  enable  those  to 
protect  the  birds  on  their  land,  who  wish  to  save  them 
from  annihilation." 

No Male.     Greensboro.   Dec.  31,   1891.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  999.     Female.  Baldwin  Co.  Sept.  28,  1892.     W.  C.  Avery. 

57.     MELEAGRIS  GALLOPAVO  SILVESTRIS   (Vieillot). 
WILD  TURKEY. 

"Twenty  years  ago  the  wild  turkey,  if  not  common,  was 
not  a  very  rare  bird,  in  this  part  of  Alabama.  A  drove 
of  turkeys  could  be  found  almost  anywhere,  where  there 
was  a  considerable  body  of  the  primeval  forest  still 
standing.  They  wandered  out  in  every  direction  from 
these  forests,  especially  in  the  breeding  season,  when  the 
hens  would  leave  their  usual  haunts  in  the  woods,  in 
search  of  nesting  places.  These  would  be  sometimes  two 
or  three  miles  from  their  habitat,  in  some  sedge  field,  or 
some  thicket  in  a  piece  of  woods  not  usually  frequented 
by  wild  turkeys.  This  propensity  of  the  hen  to  hide 
her  nest  from  her  own  kind  exposed  her  to  the  danger 
of  having  her  eggs  taken,  or  her  young  captured  some- 
times before  they  could  fly. 

"One  day  a  young  turkey,  a  few  days  old,  was  brought 
:me  by  a  negro  who  had  caught  it  in  the  field  about  a  mile 


42        GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF  ALABAMA 


from  the  house,  and  two  miles  from  the  town  of  Greens- 
boro. The  wild  turkey  hen  had  hatched  her  brood  some- 
where in  this  field,  where  she  would  remain  until  fall, 
when  she  would  take  her  young  to  the  timbered  land  on 
the  creek  bottoms,  two  or  three  miles  distant.  I  raised  this 
young  turkey.  It  proved  to  be  a  hen,  wras  very  gentle, 
feeding  from  my  hand,  and  manifesting,  after  it  was 
grown,  none  of  the  wild  instincts  of  this  wildest  of  birds. 

"Another  attempt  at  rearing  and  domesticating  the 
wild  turkey  was  made  with  equal  success.  This  time, 
however,  the  eggs  were  hatched,  and  the  young  raised 
by  a  barnyard  hen.  I  was  out  one  day  shooting  squirrels, 
when,  in  a  somewhat  frequented  spot,  and  where  I  should 
never  have  thought  to  find  the  nest  of  a  wild  turkey,  a 
hen  rose  almost  under  my  feet,  and  ran  off  through  the 
woods.  Examining  the  spot  that  she  had  just  left  I  dis- 
covered her  nest  in  the  leaves  not  three  feet  from  where 
I  was  standing.  It  contained  ten  eggs,  in  shape  and  size 
not  differing  from  those  of  the  tame  turkey.  There  was 
no  undergrowth  in  the  woods  around  the  nest ;  but  a  few 
bushes  and  briers  grew  over  it.  As  I  looked  at  the  eggs 
the  idea  suddenly  suggested  itself  that  I  might  set  these 
eggs  under  a  domestic  hen,  and  raise  the  young.  I  took 
the  eggs  from  the  nest,  carried  them  home  carefully,  and, 
incubation  having  already  advanced,  they  were  hatched 
in  about  ten  days,  under  a  barnyard  hen. 

"To  prevent  the  young  turkeys  from  running  away 
and  being  lost — for  they  are  very  wild  when  first  hatched 
— I  had  an  inclosure  (of  boards)  about  two  feet  high 
and  twenty  feet  square.  In  the  center  of  this,  the  hen 
was  confined  in  a  coop.  The  inclosed  space  gave  the 
young  turkeys  room  to  exercise,  and  also  prevented  their 
escape,  till  they  had  lost  their  natural  wildness,  and  had 
become  gentle  enough  to  feed  from  the  hand,  or  to  allow 
themselves  to  be  handled  without  alarm.  They  were  sup- 
plied chiefly  with  animal  food  in  the  form  of  curds,  the 
whey  having  been  pressed  from  milk  after  coagulation. 
They  grew  and  thrived  on  this  diet.  Out  of  nine  that 
were  hatched,  eight  lived  to  be  grown,  one  dying  when 
about  a  month  old,  from  a  wound  inflicted  by  the  spur 


AVERY  BIRD   COLLECTION  43 

of  a  barnyard  cock.  Under  a  different  state  of  affairs 
these  four  hens  and  four  cocks  might  have  bred  me  a 
large  flock  of  turkeys. 

"It  was  just  after  our  civil  war,  reconstruction  of  the 
states  was  undergoing  its  accomplishment,  and  the  freed- 
man,  armed  with  his  sham-dam  skelp,  was  ubiquitous; 
and  my  turkeys,  as  well  as  every  other  species  of  game 
or  vermin,  were  objects  of  his  pursuit.  Squirrels  were 
almost  exterminated,  except  in  the  river  bottoms.  The 
mocking-bird,  even,  did  not  escape  this  promiscuous 
slaughter.  I  saw  one  day,  on  my  place,  two  negro  boys, 
about  eighteen  years  old;  they  both  had  guns,  and  when 
interrogated  as  to  the  species  of  game  their  bags  contain- 
ed, they  made  some  evasive  answer.  I  thrust  my  hand 
into  the  sack  and  drew  out  four  mocking-birds.  Indigna- 
tion seized  me,  and  the  reader  may  imagine  that  I  used 
some  very  strong  language  at  this  ruthless  destruction 
of  a  bird  that  the  worst  white  boy  in  the  South  would 
hestitate  to  kill. 

"My  turkeys  being  very  gentle,  as  I  said,  and  daily  at- 
tention and  feeding  from  the  hand  preventing  shyness, 
or  any  disposition  to  wander  far  from  home  in  the  breed- 
ing season,  the  hens  laid  in  the  yard.  Sambo  and  his 
sister  discovered  the  nests,  and  the  eggs  were  stolen. 
Thwarted  thus  at  first,  the  four  hens  wandered  far  from 
the  house  to  find  a  safe  retreat  for  their  nests.  One  flew 
at  least  a  half  a  mile  every  morning  before  she  alighted, 
and  fed  along  toward  her  nest,  about  two  miles  distant. 
She  returned  home  to  roost  late  in  the  evening ;  but  after 
she  went  to  sitting  I  did  not  see  her  again.  She  reared  a 
brood,  as  I  afterward  learned  from  a  neighbor,  who  saw, 
with  her,  in  his  field,  a  young  wild  turkey  nearly  grown, 
and  as  the  field  lay  in  the  direction  taken  by  my  hen,  I 
inferred  that  it  must  be  my  lost  turkey  and  her  brood. 
One  of  the  other  three  hens  brought  home  five  nearly 
grown  turkeys ;  but  where  she  nested  or  how  she  escaped 
being  killed,  I  knew  not;  I  did  know,  however,  that  she 
was  stolen  from  the  yard  fence  where  she  roosted  with 
her  family.  Silly  bird !  If  she  had  known  Sambo's  thiev- 
ish propensities  as  well  as  I  knew  them,  she  would  have 


44        GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF  ALABAMA 

sought  the  top  of  the  tallest  tree.  The  other  hens  did 
not  rear  any  young.  One  of  them,  the  following  year, 
laid  and  hatched  a  dozen  eggs.  This  time  a  white  boy, 
the  son  of  a  Baptist  preacher,  who  drove  his  father's 
cow  to  pasture  every  day  in  a  field  near  my  house,  took 
a  dozen  little  turkeys  from  the  mother.  The  next  day  he 
brought  his  gun  with  him  and  shot  the  old  hen.  I  hap- 
pened to  be  in  town  when  this  Nimrod  marched  down  the 
street  with  my  turkey  swinging  on  his  back.  I  was 
standing  across  the  street,  and  I  heard  some  one  say: 
"You  got  her,  eh  ?"I  walked  across  the  street  and,  full  of 
ire,  I  took  my  beautiful  turkey  from  the  rascal.  He  did 
not  say  a  word;  he  was  guilty  and  made  no  attempt  to 
defend  himself.  I  found  my  little  turkeys  at  his  rever- 
end sire's  but  the  poor  little  birds  had  been  starved  twen- 
ty-four hours,  and  they  all  died  in  spite  of  my  effort  to 
raise  them. 

"I  shall  mention  one  habit  of  these  turkeys,  and  then  I 
shall  close  this  perhaps  already  too  long  communication. 
Whenever  they  were  threatened  by  danger,  even  when  a 
mile  from  the  house,  they  rose  with  their  loud  cry  of 
alarm  "put !  put !  put !"  which  they  never  ceased  to  utter 
'till  they  found  themselves  safely  alighted  in  the  yard. 
They  roosted  in  a  large  post  oak  that  had  stood  for  fifty 
years  in  the  yard,  and  which  may  have  been  a  hundred 
years  old.  It  was  ivy-mantled  from  the  ground ;  the  ivy 
had  covered  the  stem  and  most  of  the  branches.  There  at 
least  these  persecuted  birds  were  safe,  and  there  their 
instinct  taught  them  to  fly  from  danger. 

"'Seeing  that  I  could  not  keep  my  turkeys,  I  gave  to  a 
neighbor  one  of  the  cocks,  a  magnificent  bird,  so  gentle 
that  he  allowed  himself  to  be  taken  while  feeding  from 
my  hand.  The  rest  of  the  flock  I  killed  myself. 

"Thus  went  my  turkeys;  the  oak  where  they  roosted 
is  gone;  it  was  blasted  by  lightning;  the  hands  that 
planted  the  ivy  and  the  dear  old  house  itself  has  vanished 
from  earth,  and  death  and  the  flames  have  done  their 
work. 

'Return!  sad  thoughts!  return! 

I  wish  to  dream  and  not  to  weep*."  (1886b). 


AVERY  BIRD   COLLECTION  45 

"Common  in  suitable  localities.  Resident.  Breeds." 
(1890d). 

The  last  record  of  observation  of  the  species  at  Greens- 
boro is  contained  in  the  Doctor's  original  notes  for  Octo- 
ber 25,  1890.  In  his  notes  for  Sept.  16th-0ct.  2d,  1892,  he 
writes:  "Wild  turkeys  are  not  uncommon  on  Perdido 
Bay ;  much  'sign'  was  seen  though  no  birds  were  observed 
or  taken  during  my  stay." 

58.     ECTOPISTES  MIGRATORIUS   (Linnaeus). 
PASSENGER  PIGEON. 

"Once  countless  thousands  came  in  winter  to  feed  upon 
the  mast  of  our  forests.  Not  one  to  my  knowledge  has 
been  seen  since  the  winter  of  1887,  when  Mr.  Edward  Pas- 
teur, of  Greensboro,  shot  a  single  specimen  in  the  corpor- 
ate limits  of  the  town.  This  bird  was  not  accompanied 
by  any  other  of  his  species. 

"Since  writing  the  observations  above  on  the  passenger 
pigeon  I  have  been  informed  that  a  flock  of  about  two 
hundred  of  these  birds  were  seen  the  first  week  of  No- 
vember." (1890d). 

59.  ZENAIDURA  MACROURA  CAROLINENSIS   (Linnaeus). 

MOURNING  DOVE. 

Common.     Resident.     Breeds."  (1890d). 

In  the  Doctor's  original  notes  for  Baldwin  County, 
Sept.  16th  to  Oct.  2nd,  1892,  appears  the  following: 
"Zenaidura,  macroura  abundant  in  the  pine  woods ;  feeds 
on  the  mast  of  the  long-leaved  pine." 

No.  1026.     Female.  Greensboro.  Mar.  4,  1893.     W.  C.  Avery. 
No.  1087.     Female.     Greensboro.  Oct.  13,  1893.     W.  C.  Avery. 

60.  CH^MEPELIA  PASSERINA  TERRESTRIS  (Chapman). 

GROUND  DOVE. 

"Rare.  A  few  examples  have  been  brought  to  me  for 
identification.  Does  not  breed  here  that  I  know."  (1890d) . 

This  species  is  known  to  breed  in  Autauga  and  Mont- 
gomery Counties  and  should  certainly  breed  in  Hale  Coun- 
ty where  conditions  are  not  noticeably  different. 


46  GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF  ALABAMA 

61.     CATHARTES   AURA   SEPTENTRIONALIS    (Wied). 
TURKEY  VULTURE. 
"Turkey  Buzzard" 

"Common.  Resident.  Breeds.  It  is  generally  not  be- 
lieved that  this  vulture  has  the  sense  of  smell  acute,  but 
from  actual  observation  I  think  it  must  be  guided  by 
smell  as  well  as  by  sight  in  finding  its  prey.  During  the 
summer  past  in  July  a  small  chicken,  about  the  size  of  a 
Bob  White,  died,  and  was  thrown  out  of  the  yard  under 
some  pines  so  dense  that  no  eye  could  detect  so  small  an 
^object  from  above.  About  four  days  after  this  chicken 
had  laid  there  a  turkey  vulture  perched  upon  a  fence  near 
foy  and  extended  his  neck  in  different  directions,  as  if 
"feeling  for  the  scent;"  ascertaining  the  course  of  the 
odor,  he  flew  toward  the  spot,  lighted,  passed  some  yards 
beyond  the  dead  chicken,  as  a  dog  that  seeks  his  prey  by 
his  olfactories,  and  then  discovering  his  mistake,  he  turn- 
ed and  went  directly  to  the  object  of  his  search.  Mr.  C. 
S,  Brimley,  this  summer,  removed  the  anal  glands  of  a 
little  striped  skunk,  and  threw  them  about  a  hundred 
yards  from  my  door.  Several  days  after  this  tidbit  was 
•exposed,  the  piercing  sight  or  the  keen  scent  of  a  turkey 
vulture  discovered  its  location  and  the  vulture  perched 
or  the  fence  above  it;  a  few  minutes  afterward  he  was 
joined  by  two  others  of  his  species.  There  they  remained 
for  some  moments,  till  one  of  the  number  flew  down  and 
8TT  allowed  the  coveted  morsel.  It  seemed  to  me  that  the 
sense  of  smell  guided  these  vultures  in  this  instance ;  and 
no  one,  who  observes  them  closely,  can  escape  the  conclu- 
sion that  turkey  vultures  depend  much  upon  the  sense  of 
smell  to  find  their  prey."  (189Cd). 

62.     CATHARISTA  URUBU   (Vieillot). 
BLACK  VULTURE. 
"Carrion  Crow." 

"Common.     Resident.     Breeds."    (1890d). 

"Saw  black  vulture  feeding  her  young  by  regurgitation, 
as  a  pigeon."  (Original  notes.  Sept.  1,  1890). 

"Found  nest  of  black  vulture  in  a  hollow  of  a  tulip 
tree  (Lyriodendron  tulipifera).  The  two  eggs  lay  on 


AVERY  BIRD   COLLECTION  47 

the  bare  ground,  there  being  no  nest.  The  set  was  sent  to 
the  National  Museum."  (Original  notes.  April  11,  1891). 


63.     ELANOIDES  FORFICATUS  (Linnaeus) 
SWALLOW-TAILED  KITE. 

"Not  common.  Once  abundant.  It  may  breed  along 
the  Warrior  River,  where  it  is  now  occasionally  seen." 
(1890d). 

CIRCUS  HUDSONIUS    (Linnaeus.) 

MARSH  HAWK. 

"Rabbit  Haivk." 

Concerning  this  species,  Dr.  Avery  wrote  in  his  note- 
book: "On  March  the  17th  (1888)  flushed  a  marsh  hawk 
that  had  just  caught  a  partridge;  shot  at  the  hawk  and 
wounded  it.  This  is  the  first  time  I  ever  knew  C.  hud- 
sonius  to  catch  so  large  a  bird."  The  specimen  listed 
below  was  shot  with  a  mockingbird  in  its  talons. 

"Common.     Winter  resident."  (1890d). 

No.  220.     Female.     Greensboro.  Sept.  17,  1889.     W.  C.  Avery. 


65.     ACCIPITER  VELOX    (Wilson). 

SHARP-SHINNED  HAWK. 
"Little  Blue  Darter."     "Pigeon  Hawk." 

A  male  taken  10  miles  west  of  Greensboro,  Nov.  26, 
1877,  forms  the  basis  of  the  first  journal  record  of  this 
species.  Another  specimen,  taken  Nov.  11,  1887,  10  miles 
southwest  of  Greensboro,  is  of  interest  because  Dr. 
Avery  carefully  notes  that  its  "stomach  contained  re- 
mains of  vesper  sparrow."  Of  the  specimens  listed  below, 
the  stomach  of  No.  1025  "contained  portion  of  bird" 
while  that  of  No.  1038  contained  bird  debris. 

"Not  common.     Resident.     Breeds."  (1890d). 

No.   261.     Female.   Greensboro.   Nov.   9,   1889.     W.   C.   Avery. 
No.  950.     Male.  Greensboro.  Nov.  5,  1891.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No Male.     Greensboro.  Nov.  6,  1892.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  1025.     Male.  Greensboro.  Feb.  24,  1893.     W.  C.  Avery. 
No.  1038.     Female.     Greensboro.  Apr.  3,  1893.     W.  C.  Avery. 


48  GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF  ALABAMA 

66.     ACCIPITER    COOPERI    (Bonaparte). 

COOPER'S  HAWK. 
"Chicken  Hawk."     "Big  Blue  Darter." 

The  first  specimen  of  this  hawk  recorded  was  an  adult 
male  taken  at  Greensboro,  Nov.  13,  1877.  Ten  years 
later  (Aug.  30,  1887)  the  Doctor  launches  a  tirade,  not 
undeserved,  against  this  species.  He  writes:  "No.  31 
was  shot  while  flying  across  the  yard.  A  cooperi  is  more 
•destructive  of  game  and  fowls  than  any  hawk.  There 
Is  no  telling  how  many  pigeons  this  hawk  has  taken  from 
me  this  summer.  On  the  28th  I  fired  twice  at  one  and  in 
less  than  15  minutes  it  returned  and  caught  a  pigeon. 
Nothing  can  exceed  the  daring  of  Cooper's  hawk.  While 
not  as  swift  a  flyer  as  the  falcon,  it  is  nevertheless  very 
destructive  of  fowls  and  game.  I  believe  it  destroys  more 
game  and  fowls  than  all  the  other  species  of  hawks  to- 
gether. 

"One  for  instance  has  broken  up  the  pigeons  in  the  lit- 
tle box  against  the  gable  end  of  the  kitchen  :  it  has  caught 
the  old  birds  (cock  and  hen)  and  has  caught  the  young 
ones  also.  May  my  right  hand  forget  her  cunning  if  I 
Ml  them  not!"' 

Sept.  13th,  following,  another  specimen  was  taken,  the 
stomach  of  which  contained  "parts  of  a  sand  lizard." 
Under  this  entry  is  written :  "this  hawk  was  killed  flag- 
•rante  delicto.  She  pursued  a  pigeon  in  the  yard,  knocked 
it  to  the  ground,  and  would  have  captured  it  but  for  my 
presence.  She  pitched  on  the  limb  of  a  pine  just  outside 
of  the  front  gate,  when  she  came  to  grief  by  a  charge 
from  my  gun.  Specimen  was  mounted. 

The  Doctor  evidently  delighted  in  taking  a  large  series 
of  this  species.  Here  is  another  note,  entered  Sept.  27, 
1887,  after  the  record  of  No.  35:  "This  hawk  was  a 
large  female;  raked  at  pigeons;  lit  in  a  pine  near  the 
house ;  flew  off  into  the  grove ;  just  as  I  came  out  of  the 
house  with  my  gun  she  circled  high  over  the  yard.  I 
cocked  and  presented,  but  having  in  my  left  hand  a  cha- 
mois skin  and  a  bunch  of  keys,  I  found  on  looking  down 
the  barrel  to  aim  at  the  hawk  that  the  skin  obstructed 
the  line  of  aim;  I  had  to  throw  it  down,  recover  my  aim 


AVERY  BIRD   COLLECTION  49 

and  fire.  The  hawk  was  flying  fast  and  had  made  some 
twenty  yards  more  before  I  pressed  the  trigger;  she  must 
have  been  sixty  yards  from  me,  but  a  number  five  shot 
took  her  right  wing  close  to  the  body,  and  down  she  came 
with  the  cry  of  distress  peculiar  to  Cooper's  hawk  when 
severely  wounded :  'Chiteree !  Chiteree !  Chiteree !'  Whop ! 
She  struck  the  ground  loud  enough  to  be  heard  a  hundred 
yards." 

Such  wealth  of  detail  seems  to  indicate  that  the  Doctor 
derived  more  than  the  ordinary  collector's  pleasure  from 
the  taking  of  specimens  of  this  species.  It  might  be  in- 
ferred too  that  he  loved  his  pigeons.  But  it  is  now  well 
known  that  Cooper's  hawk  is  really  chargeable  with  most 
of  the  pilfering  of  poultry  yards  usually  blamed  upon 
the  slow-flying,  rodent-eating,  broad-winged,  red-shoul- 
dered, and  red-tailed  hawks. 

"Common.  Resident.  Breeds.  This  hawk  seems  to 
foe  the  greatest  enemy  of  domestic  fowls.  But  above  all 
birds,  he  seems  to  prefer  the  tame  pigeon.  Two  or  three 
times  a  week  my  pigeons  have  to  fly  for  their  lives.  When 
very  hungry  a  Cooper's  hawk  will  make  repeated  attempts 
at  capturing  his  quarry  before  he  will  desist.  Several 
years  ago  I  fired  both  barrels  of  my  gun  at  one  of  these 
hawks  while  in  pursuit  of  my  pigeons.  In  less  than  thir- 
ty minutes  he  returned  and  carried  off  a  pigeon."  (1890d.) 

No.  35.  Female.  Greensboro.  Sept.  27,  1887.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  179.  Male.     Greensboro.  Aug.  1,  1889.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  232.  Female.     Greensboro.  Sept.  30,  1889.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.    399.  Female.     Greensboro.    Mar.    5,    1890.     W.    C.   Avery. 

No.  440.  Female.  Greensboro.  Mar.  12,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  812.  Male.     Greensboro.     Feb.  8,  1891.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  946.  Female.     Greensboro.  Oct.  2,  1891.     W.  C.  Avery. 
No.  1020.     Male.  Greensboro.  Feb.  3,  1893.     W.  C.  Avery. 

67.     BUTEO  BOREALIS  BOREALIS   (Gmelin). 
RED-TAILED  HAWK. 

It  is  interesting  to  find  that  Dr.  Avery's  first  specimen 
-of  this  bird,  taken  Jan.  20,  1878,  10  miles  west  of  Greens- 
boro, was  sent  to  Dr.  Elliott  Coues. 

This  note,  published  in  1890,  would  indicate  that  the 
Doctor  paid  little  attention  to  Oology  "Winter  resident, 
.Has  never  been  found  breeding  here  to  my  knowledge." 


50        GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF  ALABAMA 

(1890d).  The  red-tail  is  a  common  breeder  in  Autauga 
County  and  undoubtedly  is  to  be  found  resident  in  Hale. 

After  the  entry  of  speciment  No.  1022,  listed  below,  in 
his  catalogue,  Dr.  Avery  wrote  the  following  note  on  the 
food  of  the  red-tail  that  has  been  amply  substantiated  by 
the  investigations  of  Dr.  A.  K.  Fisher  of  the  United 
States  Biological  Survey: 

The  stomach  of  this  buzzard  contained  mice  (Arvicola 
pinetorum)  and  insects.  This  red-tailed  buzzard  is  known 
as  the  hen  hawk.  It  occasionally  preys  upon  fowls ; 
but  the  harm  it  may  do  by  its  visits  to  the  farmer's  poul- 
try yard  is  more  than  compensated  by  the  vermin  it  de- 
stroys. But  to  the  superficial  observer  a  buzzard  is  a 
hawk  and  must  atone  for  his  resemblance  by  his  death 
on  all  occasions. 

"I  have  examined  the  contents  of  many  stomachs  of 
this  species;  and  I  have  yet  to  find  one  containing  a  do- 
mestic fowl." 

No.  330.     Male.  Greensboro.     Dec.  28,  1889.     W.  C.  Avery. 
No.  346.     Female.     Greensboro.  Jan.  4,  1890.  W.  C.  Avery. 
No.  350.     Male.     Greensboro.  Jan.  18,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 
No.  366.     Male.  Greensboro.  Feb.  6,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 
No.  370.     Male.  Greensboro.  Feb.  12,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 
No.  1019.     Male.  Greensboro.  Jan.  8,  1893.     W.  C.  Avery. 
No.  1021.     Male-juv.  Greensboro.  Feb.  6,  1893.     W.  C.  Avery. 
No.  1022.     Male.  Greensboro.  Feb.  9,  1893.     W.  C.  Avery. 
No.  1027.  Female-juv.  Greensboro.  Mar.  10,  1893.     W.  C.  Avery. 

68.  BUTEO  LINEATUS  LINEATUS  (Gmelin). 

RED-SHOULDERED  HAWK. 

The  collection  contains  the  following  three  specimens 
of  the  typical  subspecies: 

No.  189.     Female-adult.  Greensboro.  Aug.  19,  1889.  W.  C.  Avery. 
No.  358.     Female.  Greensboro.  Jan.  28,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 
No.  1109.  Male.  Greensboro.  Dec.  27,  1893.  W.  C.  Avery. 

The  stomach  of  No.  1109  contained  "remnants  of  a  frog 
and  of  grasshoppers." 

69.  BUTEO  LINEATUS  ALLENI    (Ridgway). 

FLORIDA  RED-SHOULDERED  HAWK. 

"Common.     Resident.     Breeds."    (1890d). 
As  this  species  is  so  universally  known  to  the  country 
people  as  "chicken  hawk,"  it  is  interesting  to  note  that 


AVERY  BIRD  COLLECTION  51 



1 

the  stomach  of  a  specimen  (No.  38)  taken  near  Greens- 
boro, Nov.  19,  1887,  was  '"filled  with  grasshoppers  and 
beetles."  The  stomach  of  No.  959,  listed  below,  "con- 
tained a  good  gill  of  insects  and  a  snake  about  6  inches 
long." 

No.  151.  Male-juv.  Greensboro.  May  25,  1889.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  182.  Female-juv.  Greensboro.  Aug.  10,  1889.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  188.  Male.  Greensboro.  Aug.  17,  1889.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  221.  Female.  Greensboro.  Sept.  19,  1889.  W.C.  Avery. 

No.  226.  Female.  Greensboro.  Sept.  28,  1889.  W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  279.  Female.  Greensboro.  Nov.  26,  1889.  W.  C.  Avery. 

No.   331.  Male.   Greensboro.    Dec.   .28,   1889. 

No.  959.  .Female.  Greensboro.  Dec.  4,  1891.     W.  C.  Avery. 

70.     BUTEO  PLATYPTERUS  (Vieillot). 
BROAD-WINGED  HAWK. 

"Rare.  Only  one  specimen  has  come  under  my  obser- 
vation. That  was  shot  and  mounted  by  Dr.  J.  M.  Pickett, 
of  Cedarville,  Alabama.  I  have  the  specimen  in  my  col- 
lection." (1890d). 

Unfortunately  this  specimen  has  since  disappeared. 

71.     HALI^ETUS  LEUCOCEPHALUS  LEUCOCEPHALUS 

(Linnaeus) . 
BALD  EAGLE. 

"Eight  years  ago  while  shooting  five  miles  west  of 
Greensboro,  a  bald  eagle  flew  over  my  head  at  scarcely 
forty  feet  high.  It  took  but  a  second  to  cock  my  gun  and 
present,  but  my  horse,  for  the  first  time  that  I  had 
known  him,  reversed  ends  as  quick  as  thought;  and  I 
found  myself  with  my  face  and  my  gun  turned  in  the 
opposite  direction  from  that  which  I  had  intended.  The 
eagle  continued  on  his  way  and  I  have  not  seen  him 
since.  My  nephew  had  been  shooting  from  my  horse, 
and  had  poked  the  gun  between  his  ears,  perhaps,  repeat- 
ed shocks  from  charges  fired  too  close  to  his  ears,  or 
perhaps  grains  of  powder  burning  him,  had  made  him 
gun  shy  and  caused  me  to  lose  the  only  specimen  of  the 
bald  eagle  I  ever  saw.  Moral  reflection:  Don't  lend 
your  horse,  or  dog,  or  gun."  (1890e). 

"Bald  eagles  were  common  on  the  sea  coast  of  Baldwin 
County."  (Original  notes.  Sept.  16-Oct.  2,  1892.) 


52  GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF  ALABAMA 

72.  FALCO  PEREGRINUS  ANATUM   (Bonaparte). 
DUCK  HAWK. 

The  first  mention  of  this  species  by  Dr.  Avery  is  the 
record  of  two  individuals  at  Greensboro,  Sept.  10,  1886 ; 
the  last  record  is  of  a  single  bird  seen  on  the  Gulf  Coast 
of  Baldwin  County,  Sept.  22,  1892.  The  species  was  evi- 
dently of  considerable  interest  to  the  Doctor  for  he  pub- 
lished three  articles  concerning  it.  These  are  quoted 
here  in  full. 

The  first  appeared  under  the  title  "Wiles  of  the  Pere- 
grine Falcon,"  and  was  published  in  the  old  "Ornitholo- 
gist and  Oologist  which  has  long  since  expired.  It  fol- 
lows: 

"While  shooting  one  day,  as  I  entered  a  large  field, 
my  attention  was  attracted  to  a  flock  of  killdeer,  flying 
high  over  head.  They  were  as  noisy  as  usual  and  flew 
in  different  directions,  as  if  they  had  been  disturbed  and 
scattered. 

"Far  below  the  killdeers,  came  rapidly  towards  me  a 
peregrine  falcon,  one  eye  glancing  up  at  a  killdeer  many 
feet  above  him.  His  long  pointed  wings  beat  the  air 
with  short,  quick  strokes,  as  they  bore  him  with  increas- 
ing speed  till  he  reached  a  point  just  below  his  unwary 
victim,  when,  as  an  arrow  from  a  bow,  he  shot  upwards, 
passing  not  a  foot  ahead  of  the  incoming  killdeer.  The 
bird  literally  flew  into  the  outstretched  talons  that  seized 
and  bore  it  several  hundred  yards  to  the  top  of  a  tall 
oak  tree. 

"Not  many  minutes  had  elapsed  before  I  was  standing 
under  the  tree.  A  well  directed  charge  of  No.  8  shot  was 
launched  at  the  hawk;  the  killdeer  fell  from  his  grasp; 
he  fell  to  the  under  side  of  the  limb  on  which  he  was 
perched,  quivered  a  few  seconds,  released  his  hold,  and 
followed  his  dead  quarry  to  the  ground. 

"On  another  occasion,  I  was  shooting  ducks  in  a  slough 
in  the  Warrior  bottom,  when  I  heard  an  unusual  noise, 
so  loud  and  so  continued  was  it  that  I  took  it  to  be  the 
scream  of  same  large  bird  in  distress — a  pileated  wood- 
pecker perhaps.  I  hastened  towards  the  place  whence 
the  cries  proceeded.  As  I  waded  into  the  water,  I  saw 


AVERY  BIRD  COLLECTION  53 

a  peregrine  falcon  hovering  above  the  timber,  as  a  fish 
hawk  balances  himself  before  he  descends.  I  started  a 
black  duck  from  under  a  log  not  ten  feet  from  me ;  as  I 
proceeded  other  ducks  left  their  hiding  places  and  sought 
safety  in  flight.  They  were  aware  of  the  danger  over 
head  in  the  shape  of  the  falcon,  and  all  the  frightful 
screams  of  the  cunning  hawk  had  not  caused  them  to 
leave  the  water.  My  presence  in  their  very  midst  had 
alarmed  them  and  so  soon  as  they  were  on  the  wing  the 
falcon  darted  like  lightning  after  them,  and  disappeared 
through  the  timber  with  their  pursuer  close  behind  them. 

"The  capture  of  the  killdeer  by  the  falcon,  in  the 
manner  above  described,  was  certainly  astonishing.  It 
was  evidently  a  ruse,  as  the  bird  did  not  see  its  enemy, 
'till  like  an  apparition,  he  shot  up  just  ahead  and  the  two 
taloned  feet  were  extended  to  received  it. 

"The  falcon  resorts,  also,  to  cunning  when  he  seeks 
to  frighten  the  ducks  from  the  water  by  screams  louder 
than  I  had  supposed  it  possible  for  such  a  bird  to  make. 

"Sometimes  the  shooter  is  surprised  by  the  presence 
of  the  peregrine  falcon  as  he  falls,  as  it  were,  from  the 
very  clouds. 

"Once,  upon  the  coast  of  North  Carolina,  near  Nay's 
Head,  I  had  shot  several  willets  and  was  reloading  my 
muzzle,  when  a  peregrine  falcon  stooped  at  a  winged 
willet  that  stood  in  the  water  not  twenty  yards  from  me. 
The  wounded  bird  escaped  by  squatting  suddenly.  The 
upward  flight  of  the  falcon  seemed  to  me  not  less  rapid 
than  had  been  his  descent.  I  had  one  barrel  loaded,  the 
contents  of  which  I  sent  after  him  without  apparent  ef- 
fect, as  he  towered  in  a  few  seconds  beyond  the  reach  of 
danger. 

"One  among  other  occasions,  when  this  marauder  has 
suddenly  appeared  on  the  scene,  I  shall  never  forget.  I 
had  one  day  scattered  a  covey  of  partridges  Colinus  vir- 
ginianus  in  an  open  field,  and  had  hunted  the  single  birds 
for  some  time  with  varied  success ;  now  killing,  now  miss- 
ing a  bird.  Finally  my  dog  pointed  in  a  sedge  field,  at 
least  a  half  a  mile  from  the  nearest  woods.  I  flushed  the 
bird  and  missed  it ;  almost  simultaneously  with  the  shot,  a 


54        GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF  ALABAMA 

peregrine  falcon  stooped  from  the  sky,  coming  down- 
ward and  directly  behind  the  whirring  partridge,  he 
passed  by  me  swift  as  the  leaden  shower  I  had  just  sent 
in  vain  after  poor  Bob  White;  overtaking  but  missing  his 
quarry  before  it  had  flown  two  hundred  yards.  It  seem- 
ed to  me  that  the  falcon  must  have  flown  with  at  least 
four  times  the  speed  of  the  partridge,  and  that  he  flew 
at  least  a  half  mile  while  the  latter  was  going  two  hun- 
dred yards. 

That  bird  was  bagged  that  day  by  neither  shooter  nor 
hawk.  I  marked  it  down;  but  I  had  not  the  heart  to 
flush  and  shoot  at  it  again  when  it  had  escaped  the  leaden 
missiles  hurled  after  it,  and  the  sharp  talons  of  the  hun- 
gry falcon  that  followed  in  their  wake."  (1887). 

Next  came  this  extended  note  in  "Birds  Observed  in 
Alabama" : 

"Rare,  Generally  seen  in  autumn  and  winter,  in  the 
wake  of  the  wild  duck.  His  presence  is  a  good  indica- 
tion that  there  are  ducks  somewhere  not  far  distant.  It 
has  occurred  to  me  once  to  see  one  of  these  falcons  cap- 
ture a  tame  pigeop.  There  were  two  of  them  together, 
tiercel  and  falcon,  male  and  female,  as  might  be  easily 
seen  from  their  difference  in  size.  They  fell  like  thun- 
derbolts from  the  clouds ;  the  pigeons,  the  object  of  their 
pursuit,  perceived  them  and  took  wing ;  the  female  falcon 
leading  struck  a  pigeon  and,  fastening  to  it,  was  borne 
downward  some  distance;  but,  making  her  hold  secure, 
she  rose  with  her  quarry  and  flew  more  than  half  a 
mile,  lighting  on  the  top  of  a  tall  gum  (liquidambar). 
Two  or  three  years  ago  I  witnessed  another  exciting 
chase  of  these  tigers  of  the  air,  after  my  pigeons.  Again 
came  a  pair,  tiercel  and  falcon;  this  time,  however,  the 
pigeons  discovered  their  pursuers  in  time  to  rise  above 
them.  This  advantage  was  not  maintained  long,  for 
both  falcons,  following  swiftly  behind  and  below  their 
destined  quarry,  began  to  "ring"  or  ascend  in  rapid  cir- 
cles; the  male  got  his  "pitch0  first,  but  before  he  had 
attained  it,  the  pigeons  were  perhaps  two  hundred  yards 
away  and  imagined  themselves  safe;  but  to  close  his 
long,  pointed  wings,  and  to  dash  through  their  terrified 


AVERY  BIRD  COLLECTION  55 

ranks  seemed  to  me  to  require  but  two  or  three  seconds. 
Indeed,  so  swift  was  his  flight  that  the  pigeons  appeared, 
in  comparison,  scarcely  to  move.  He  missed  his  bird, 
however,  and  now  it  was  his  mate's  turn.  Pigeons  and 
falcons  vanished  from  my  view  behind  some  trees;  but 
they  came  into  sight  again  in  a  few  seconds,  one  of  the 
falcons  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  off  descending  to  the 
ground  a  few  feet  behind  a  pigeon,  which  was  captured 
without  doubt,  as  escape  seemed  impossible.  What  grand 
sport  it  would  be  to  have  well-trained  falcons  to  pursue 
our  pinnated  grouse!  Why  does  not  some  sportsman 
take  the  initiative,  who  can  afford  it?  Judging  from 
the  performances  of  the  wild  birds  in  capturing  their 
prey,  shooting  game  to  pointers  or  setters  is  tame  sport 
compared  with  capturing  it  with  falcons."  (1890e). 

The  following  was  published  in  1893  in  answer  to  a 
question  in  the  "Ornithologist  and  Oologist" : 

"  'What  is  authentically  known  of  the  rapidity  of  flight 
by  different  species  of  birds,  and  which  is  considered  the 
swiftest?' 

"To  Mr.  Smith's  question,  I  believe  it  may  be  answered 
that  the  falcons  are  the  swiftest,  and  as  far  as  my  exper- 
ience goes  it  seems  to  me  that  the  duck  hawk  is  swifter 
than  any  other  species. 

"It  easily  overtakes  any  bird  within  the  range  of  its 
vision,  and  does  so  with  incredible  velocity. 

"A  Bob  White,  once  fired  at  by  me,  was  overtaken  by  a 
duck  hawk  in  the  distance  of  two  hundred  yards,  though 
the  hawk  apparently  had  to  fly  three  times  as  far  as  its 
quarry  before  it  reached  the  latter. 

"On  another  occasion  two  duck  hawks  were  seen  pur- 
suing a  flock  of  tame  pigeons.  These  were  far  above 
their  pursuers,  and  while  in  that  position  were  safe.  But 
the  falcons  began  to  'ring,'  or  ascend  in  circles  'till  the 
smaller  bird,  the  male,  got  his  'pitch'  first,  then,  with 
astonishing  swiftness,  he  overtook  the  pigeons,  whose 
rapidity  of  flight  is  very  great.  When  the  falcon  began 
his  swoop,  at  about  an  angle  of  twenty  degrees  with  the 
flight  of  the  pigeons,  these,  though  going  very  fast, 
seemed  in  comparison  with  the  progress  of  their  pursuer 


56        GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF  ALABAMA 


scarcely  to  move,  as  he  shot  like  an  arrow  through  the 
flock.  Other  instances  of  the  swiftness  of  flight  by  Fal- 
cons might  be  given  but  these  seem  to  show  that  no  bird 
flies  as  fast  as  the  falcon."  (1893b). 


73.     FALCO  COLUMBARIUS  COLUMBARIUS  (Linnaeus). 
PIGEON  HAWK. 

"Rare.  I  saw  one  of  these  falcons  last  year  pursuing 
tame  pigeons.  His  performance  was  poor  compared  to 
the  brilliant  work  of  the  peregrine."  (1890e). 

The  only  original  reference  to  this  species  that  could 
be  found  is  one  of  the  Doctor's  Baldwin  County  notes 
that  is  not  very  authoritative:  "While  returning  from 
Dauphin  Island  at  dawn  on  Sept.  22d,  a  falcon  was  seen 
pursuing  a  tern  off  the  shore  of  the  Gulf.  It  was  sup- 
posed from  size  to  be  the  pigeon  hawk."  This  was  in 
1892. 

The  stomach  of  No.  1106,  listed  below,  "contained  re- 
mains of  a  small  bird." 

No.  947.     Female.  Greensboro.  Oct.  6,  1891.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  1106.     Male-juv.  Greensboro.  Dec.  22,  1893.     W*  C.  Avery. 


74.     FALCO  SPARVERIUS  SPARVERIUS  (Linnaeus). 
SPARROW  HAWK. 

"Common.     Resident.     Breeds."   (1890e). 

The  stomach  contents  of  an  adult  male  taken  Mar.  17, 
1888,  near  Greensboro,  were  recorded  as  "grasshoppers 
and  crickets."  It  is  well  known  that  the  food  of  this  in- 
nocent little  hawk  consists  principally  of  such  insects 
during  the  warmer  months,  while  mice  enter  largely  into 
its  bill  of  fare  during  the  winter,  but  nevertheless  the 
slaughter  of  the  species  continues. 

No.  280.  Male.  Greensboro.  Nov.  28,  1889.  W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  801.  Male.  Greensboro.     Nov.  1,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  953.  Male.  Greensboro.  Nov.  21,  1891.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  963.  Female.  Greensboro.  Dec.  13,  1891.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  972.  Male.  Greensboro.  Dec.  26,  1891.     W.  C.  Avery 

No.  1003.  Male.  Baldwin  Co.,  Oct.  2,  1892.     W.  C.  Avery 

No.  1005.  Sex   (?).     Baldwin  Co.  Oct.  2,  1892.     W.  C.  Avery. 


AVERY  BIRD  COLLECTION  57 


75.     PANDION  HALIAETUS  CAROLINENSIS   (Gmelin). 

OSPREY. 

"Fish  Hawk:' 

"Observed  only  a  few  times  by  me  in  this  country." 
(1890e). 

The  foregoing  note  was  published  by  the  Doctor  before 
his  trip  to  the  Gulf  Coast  in  1892.  In  his  journal  for  the 
period  Sept.  16-Oct.  2,  he  writes:  "Many  ospreys  were 
seen  on  the  Gulf  Coast  and  on  Perdido  Bay;  on  Soldier 
Creek  there  were  many  nests  in  the  pines  and  cypresses." 

76.     ALUCO  PRATINCOLA    (Bonaparte). 
BARN  OWL. 

"Rare  in  this  country,  as  far  as  I  know,  except  six 
miles  south  of  Greensboro,  on  Mr.  James  Sledge's  place, 
where  these  owls  are  abundant.  A  quantity  of  their 
castings  may  sometimes  be  gathered  under  the  trees  in 
his  grove,  where  the  owls  are  found.  They  feed  on  rats 
and  mice."  (1890e). 

77.     ASIO  WILSONIANUS  (Lesson)). 
LONG-EARED  OWL. 

"Rare.  Three  specimens  have  come  under  my  obser- 
vation ;  two  shot  by  Mr.  John  Cocke  of  this  county  and  one 
by  myself ;  flushed  in  a  cornfield  on  the  edge  of  a  thicket, 
while  shooting.  Time,  winter."  (1890e). 

The  stomach  of  the  specimen  listed  below  "contained 
hair  and  bones  of  mice."  A  note  appended  to  the  entry 
of  this  specimen  in  the  Doctor's  original  catalogue  reads : 
"It  was  told  me  that  eight  or  ten  of  these  owls  were 
seen  in  a  flock,  and  that  three  or  four  might  have  been 
killed  at  a  shot."  A  little  farther  down  the  page  is 
penned:  "On  Saturday,  March  3d,  1894,  a  badly  shot 
specimen  of  Asio  wilsonianus  was  brought  to  me." 

No.  1108.     Sex  (?).  Greensboro.  Dec.  27,  1893.     W.  C.    Avery. 

78.     ASIO  FLAMMEUS  (Pojitoppidan). 
SHORT-EARED  OWL. 

"Tolerably  common  some  years ;  others  not  seen  at  all. 
Frequently  flies  about  in  the  daytime,  and  is  flushed 
from  the  tall  grass  of  meadows  and  marshes.  A  half 


58        GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF  ALABAMA 

dozen  or  more  are  often  seen  together.     Winter  resident/' 
(1890e). 

The  stomach  of  the  specimen  listed  "contained  a  male 
redwing." 

No.  958.     Female.     Greensboro.  Dec.  4,  1891.     W.  C.  Avery. 

79.     STRIX  VARIA  VARIA    (Barton). 
BARRED  OWL. 

A  specimen  in  the  collection,  bearing  no  label,  is  refer- 
able to  this  subspecies.  It  is  thought  to  be  No.  100,  taken 
by  Dr.  Avery  at  Greensboro,  Oct.  18,  1888. 

80.     STRIX  VARIA  ALLENI    (Ridgway). 
FLORIDA  BARRED  OWL. 

"Common.     Resident.     Breeds."      (1890e). 

No.  835.     Female.     Greensboro.     May  6,  1891.     W.  C.  Avery. 
No.  951.     Female.     Greensboro.     Nov.  18,  1891.     W.  C.  Avery. 
No.  992.     Female-juv.     Greensboro.  Sept.  7,  1892.  W.  C.  Avery. 

81.     OTUS  ASIO  ASIO  (Limueus). 
FLORIDA  SCREECH  OWL*. 

The  first  record  found  of  the  screech  owl  is  the  journal 
entry  of  specimen  No.  6  (old  series),  an  adult  female 
taken  at  Greensboro,  June  3,  1876.  After  a  description 
of  the  eyes,  bill  and  nails,  and  a  note  on  the  stomach 
contents,  "debris  of  beetles,"  is  written:  "The  screech 
owl  is  found  in  Alabama  about  barns  and  near  dwelling 
houses.  It  builds  for  years  in  the  same  hollow  tree." 

The  next  specimen  was  taken  just  two  weeks  later,  in 
the  same  locality,  and  under  the  record  is  appended: 
"This  bird  has  two  plumages  which  do  not  characterize 
either  male  or  female;  both  being  indifferently  clad  now 
in  one,  now  in  the  other :  i.  e.,  the  male  may  sometimes 
be  found  with  a  reddish  or  rufus  plumage,  and  the  female 
may  sometimes  have  the  same,  sometimes  the  male  may 
be  mottled  and  then  again  the  female  may  be  mottled. 
No.  6  is  an  instance  o*f  a  female  with  the  rufus  plumage, 
and  the  present  specimen  is  a  female  with  the  mottled 
plumage." 

*Ridgway,  Birds  of  N.  and  Mid.  Am.,  Part  VI,  p.  687,  Wash.  1914. 


AVERY  BIRD  COLLECTION  59 

The  catalogue  record  shows  that  the  stomach  of  another 
specimen,  a  female  taken  Dec.  23,  1893,  at  Greensboro, 
contained  beetles,  but  the  beneficent  influence  of  the 
screech  owl,  in  spite  of  the  superstition  concerning  it,  is 
so  well  known,  that  its  mouse  and  insect-eating  proclivi- 
ites  need  not  be  enlarged  upon  here.  However,  it  does 
seem  strange  that  Dr.  Avery's  only  published  note  on 
the  species  should  consist  of  just  these  three  words : 

"Common.     Resident.     Breeds."  (1890e). 

No.  271.     Female.  Greensboro.  Nov.  13,  1889.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  527.     Male-hornot.  Greensboro.  May  31,  1890.  W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  983.     Male.  Greensboro.  Jan.  27,  1892.  W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  1009.     Male.  Greensboro.  Dec.  12,  1892.  W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  1011.     Male.  Greensboro.  Dec.  24,  1892.  W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  1023.     Male.  Greensboro.  Feb.  21,  1893.  W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  1024.     Male.  Greensboro.  Feb.  23,  1893.  W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  1037.     Male.  Greensboro.  Feb.  15,  1893.  W.  C.  Avery. 

82.     OTUS  ASIO  NJEVIUS   (Gmelin). 
SCREECH  OWL.* 

The  following  specimen  is  referable  to  this  subspecies : 
No.  976.     Female.  Greensboro.  Jan.  18,  1892.     W.  C.  Avery. 

83.     BUBO  VIRGINIANUS  VIRGINIANUS   (Gmelin). 
GREAT  HORNED  OWL. 

"Rare.     Resident.     Breeds."  (1890e). 

No.  962.  Female.  Greensboro.  Dec.  8,  1891.  W.  C.  Avery. 
No.  990.  Male.  Greensboro.  July  19,  1892.  W.  C.  Avery. 
No Odd  specimen  with  no  label. 

84.     CONUROPSIS  CAROLINENSIS  (Linnaeus). 
CAROLINA  PAROQUET. 

"Has  not  been  seen  in  this  country  for  many  years. 
Once  common."  (1890e). 

Probably  the  Doctor  had  to  accept  hearsay  evidence  as 
to  the  former  abundance  of  this  species,  for  it  is  doubtful 
that  he  ever  saw  a  Carolina  paroquet  in  life. 

85.     COCCYZUS  AMERICANUS  AMERICANUS  (Linnaeus). 

YELLOW-BILLED  CUCKOO. 

"Rain  Crow." 

"Common.     Summer  resident.     Breeds."  (1890e). 

*Ridgway,  Birds  of  N.  and  Mid.  Am.,  Part  VI,  p.  690,  Wash.  1914. 


60        GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF  ALABAMA 

Sept.  1],  1889,  Dr.  Avery  noted  in  his  journal  that  he 
saw  "a  half  dozen  yellow-billed  cuckoos  feeding  on  cotton 
worms/' 

No.  500.  Female.  Greensboro.  May  4,  1890.  W.  C.  Avery. 
No.  595.  Male.  Greensboro.  Aug.  22,  1890.  W.  C.  Avery. 
No.  604.  Male.  Greensboro.  Aug.  23,  1890.  W.  C.  Avery. 


86.     CERYLE  ALCYON   (Linnaeus). 
BELTED  KINGFISHER. 

"Common.     Summer  resident.     Breeds."    (1890e). 

This  note  is  too  restricted,  for  the  kingfisher  is  a  per- 
manent resident  in  Alabama. 

The  Doctor  recorded  the  species  as.  common  on  Per- 
dido  Bay  during  his  stay  in  Baldwin  County,  Sept.  16  to 
Oct.  2,  1892. 

No.  584.     Female.  Greensboro.  Aug.  16,  1890.  W.  C.  Avery. 


87.     CAMPEPHILUS   PRINCIPALIS    (Linnaeus). 
IVORY-BILLED  WOODPECKER. 

"In  1866,  while  I  was  stalking  some  mallards  in  the 
Cypress  Slough,  near  the  Warrior  River,  and  ten  miles 
west  of  Greensboro,  a  bird  which  I  thought  was  a  pileat- 
ed  woodpecker  (called  here  log-cock),  flew  by  me,  but  a 
strange  note  made  me  at  once  suspect  the  identity  of  the 
bird,  and  in  two  seconds  a  female  ivory-billed  wood- 
pecker instead  of  the  mallards  was  secured  by  me.  This 
is  the  only  instance  known  to  me  of  its  occurrence  in  this 
country."  (1890e). 


88.     DRYOBATES   VILLOSUS   AUDUBONI    (Swainson). 
SOUTHERN  HAIRY  WOODPECKER. 

"Common.     Resident.     Breeds."    (1890e). 

No.   174.  Male.     Greensboro.     July  24,   1889.     W.   C.  Avery. 

No.  596.  Male.     Greensboro.  Aug.  22,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  693.  Female.     Greensboro.  Sept.  20,  1980.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  713.  Female.  Greensboro.  Sept.  29,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  823.  Male.     Greensboro.     Apr.  11,  1891.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  889.  Male.     Greensboro.     Aug.  11,  1891.  W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  1063.  Male.     Greensboro.     Sept.  4,  1893.     W.  C.  Avery. 


AVERY  BIRD   COLLECTION  61 


89.     DRYOBATES  PUBESCENS  PUBESCENS  (Linnseus). 
SOUTHERN  DOWNY  WOODPECKER. 

"Common.     Resident.     Breeds."    (1890e). 

No.  396.  Male.     Greensboro.     Mar.  5,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  404.  Female.     Greensboro.     Mar.  10,  1890.  W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  428.  Male.     Greensboro.     Mar.  19,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  599.  Female.     Greensboro.     Aug.  22,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  759.  Male-juv.     Greensboro.  Oct.  16,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  777.  Male.  Greensboro.  Oct.  21,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

90.     DRYOBATES   BOREALIS    (Vieillot). 
RED-COCKADED  WOODPECKER. 

"Common  in  the  pine  woods  north  of  Greensboro.  It 
was  discovered  last  September,  the  20th,  in  a  growth  of 
pines,  in  the  Warrior  River  bottom,  near  Millwood.  Mr. 
C.  S.  Brimley  of  Raleigh,  North  Carolina,  who  was  mak- 
ing biological  explorations  here  for  the  Agricultural  De- 
partment at  Washington,  discovered  it  ttiere,  where  it 
had  previously  escaped  my  observation.  Resident.  Breeds. 
(1890e). 

The  stomachs  of  a  male  and  female  of  this  species,  tak- 
en Jan.  4,  1891,  near  Greensboro,  contained,  respectively, 
"red  ants"  and  "insects:" 

Red-cockaded  woodpeckers  were  "seen  frequently"  dur- 
ing the  Doctor's  stay  in  Baldwin  County,  Sept.  16  to 
Oct.  2,  1892. 

No.  692.     Male.     Greensboro.  Sept.  20,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 
No.  809    (?).  Female.     No  label. 

91.     SPHYRAPICUS   VARIUS   VARIUS    (Linnaeus). 
YELLOW-BELLIED  SAPSUCKER. 

Dr.  Avery's  first  specimen  of  this  woodpecker,  so  far 
as  the  record  goes,  was  taken  Jan.  10,  1878,  at  Greens- 
boro. Oct.  8,  1887,  another  specimen  was  recorded 
whose  "stomach  contained  only  ants." 

"Common  during  the  autumn  migration."  (1890e). 

No.  Bis40.     Female.  Greensboro.     Jan.  10,  1878.     W.  C.  Avery. 
No.  230.     Male.     Greensboro.     Sept.  28,  1889.     W.  C.  Avery. 
No.  240.     Male.     Greensboro.     Oct.  9,  1889.  W.  C.  Avery. 
No.  241.     Male.     Greensboro.  Oct.  9,  1889.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  403.     Male.     Greensboro.  Jan ,  1886.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  774.  Female.  Greensboro.  Oct.  20,  1890.  W.  C.  Avery. 
No.  779.  Male  juv.  Greensboro.  Oct.  22,  1890.  W.  C.  Avery. 
No.  795.*  Male.  Greensboro.  Oct.  25,  1890.  W.  C.  Avery. 


62  GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF  ALABAMA 

92.     PHLGEOTOMUS  PILEATUS  PILEATUS    (Linnaeus). 

PILEATED  WOODPECKER. 

"Log-Cock." 

"Not  common,  though  once  abundant.  Found  in  heavily 
timbered  localities;  chiefly  in  the  river  bottom."  (1890e). 

Writing  of  Baldwin  County,  Sept.  16-Oct.  2,  1892,  the 
Doctor  noted :  "Pileated  woodpecker  not  common ;  one 
specimen  was  taken  at  'Rambler's  Rest'  on  Perdido  Bay." 

No.  1004.     Male.  Baldwin  Co.     Oct.  2,  1892.     W.  C.  Avery. 
No.  1063.     Female.  Greensboro.  Sept.  8,  1893.     W.  C.  Avery. 

93.     MELANERPES  ERYTHROCEPHALUS   (Linmeus). 

RED-HEADED  WOODPECKER. 

"Shirt-Tail." 

After  cataloging  an  adult  male  taken  at  Greensboro, 
June  9,  1876,  as  No.  14  of  his  first  series,  Dr.  Avery 
writes : 

"Stomach  contained  debris  of  insects,  and  blackberry 
seeds. 

"When  I  was  a  boy  the  red-headed  woodpecker  was  a 
very  common  bird.  Thousands  of  these  harmless  birds 
have  been  destroyed,  under  the  pretext  of  saving  the 
fruit  and  the  Indian  corn.  I  believe  that  when  they 
peck  into  the  latter  it  is  to  search  for  a  worm  that  de- 
stroys the  corn :  be  that  as  it  may  the  red-headed  wood- 
pecker does  more  good  by  the  destruction  of  insects  than 
harm  by  eating  a  little  fruit  or  corn  even. 

"No  bird  affords  a  better  mark  for  wanton  shooters 
than  this  beautiful  bird.  Thousands  perish  because  they 
are  a  good  mark  for  a  rifle  shot. 

"There  used  to  be  hundreds  in  Alabama  where  there 
is  one  now.  When  we  destroy  our  friends,  our  enemies, 
the  cotton  worms,  increase  until  their  number  is  legion. 

"My  country  thou  art  doomed!  The  degraded  African 
destroys  every  day  with  ruthless  hand  thy  crown  of  trees, 
thy  noble  forests.  Even  the  mockingbird  does  not  escape 
the  senseless,  soulless  negro.  Not  long  after  the  war,  I 
saw  two  negro  boys  with  guns,  both  of  them  at  least 
seventeen  or  eighteen  years  old.  I  asked  one  of  them 
what  he  had  in  his  bird-bag.  He  told  me  (I  think)  that 


AVERY  BIRD   COLLECTION  63 

he  had  a  rabbit.  I  put  my  hand  into  his  pouch  and  pulled 
out — Oh,  horrors! — four  mockingbirds." 

In  the  summer  of  1888  a  specimen  was  catalogued  with- 
out date,  the  entry  followed  by  this  note : 

"My  little  nephew,  Willie  Cobbs,  shot  this  bird,  a  pet, 
which  had  nested  in  my  lot.  M.  erythrocephalus  (red- 
headed woodpecker)  is  scarce  in  this  locality.  When  I 
was  a  boy  it  was  one  of  the  commonest  birds  of  this  coun- 
try." 

The  foregoing  statements  are  especially  interesting  in 
view  of  the  Doctor's  terse  published  note  on  the  species 
which  appeared  in  1890 :  "Abundant.  Summer  resident. 
A  few  remain  during  the  winter.  Breeds."  (1890e). 

It  is  doubtful  that  there  has  been  any  great  diminution 
in  numbers  of  this  woodpecker,  in  spite  of  its  unwonted 
persecution,  because  its  natural  enemies  are  compara- 
tively few  and  with  the  "deadening"  of  timber  incident 
upon  the  opened  up  of  new  lands  its  food  supply  has  been 
augmented  and  the  number  of  desirable  nesting  sites  in- 
creased. 

The  present  writer  deplores  with  the  Doctor  the  wan- 
ton destruction  of  our  beneficial  birds,  that  continues 
even  at  this  time,  but  he  would  point  out  that  the  negro 
is  not  alone  responsible.  After  more  than  thirty  years 
of  educational  work  on  the  part  of  the  United  States 
Department  of  Agriculture,  the  ornithological  societies, 
and  lesser  agencies,  it  is  indeed  a  sad  commentary  upon 
our  civilization  that  our  whites  still  persist  in  using  as 
targets  the  protectors  of  our  crops,  orchards  and  forests. 

No.  554.     Sex    (?).     Greensboro.  July  28,  1890.     W.   C.  Avery. 
No.  829.     Male.     Greensboro.     May  2,  1891.     W.  C.  Avery. 
,No.  832.     Male.     Greensboro.     May  4,  1891.     W.  C.  Avery. 

94.     CENTURUS  CAROLINUS    (Linnaeus). 
RED-BELLIED  WOODPECKER. 

After  the  record  of  No.  51,  listed  below,  the  stomach 
of  which  "contained  portions  of  acorns  and  beetles,"  oc- 
curs this  note : 

"This  bird  is  common  in  this  country ;  but  like  its  rela- 
tive the  red-headed  woodpecker  (Melanerpes  erythroce- 
phalus)  it  is  becoming  every  year  scarcer." 


64        GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF  ALABAMA 


"Common.     Resident.     Breeds."  (1890e). 
Recorded  as  "quite  common"  in  Baldwin  County,  Sept, 
16  to  Oct.  2,  1892. 

No.  51Bis.     Male.     Greensboro.     Feb.  7,  1878.     W.  C.  Avery. 
No.  638.     Male.     Greensboro.   Sept.   3,   1890.     W.   C.   Avery. 
No.  914.     Male  hornot.  Greensboro.  Sept.  8,  1891.     W.  C.  Avery, 
No Odd  specimen  without  label. 

95.     COLAPTES   AURATUS   AURATUS    (Linnaeus). 

FLICKER. 
"Yellow  Hammer." 

There  is  only  one  specimen  of  the  resident  subspecies 
in  the  collection ;  it  is  listed  below. 

No.  866.     Male-hornot.  Greensboro.  June  13,  1891.     W.  C.  Avery. 

96.     COLAPTES  AURATUS  LUTEUS   (Bangs). 
NORTHERN  FLICKER. 
"Yellow  Hammer." 

"Abundant.  Winter  resident.  A  few  remain  during 
summer  and  nest  here."  (1890e). 

Subspecies  luteus  was  not  described  until  1898,  so  the 
above  note  was  absolutely  correct  at  the  time  it  was 
published.  It  is  known  now,  however,  that  auratiis  is  the 
breeding  bird  while  luteus  is  only  a  winter  visitant. 

No.  49Bis.     Female.     Greensboro.  Jan.  28,  1878.     W.  C.  Avery. 
No.  318.     Female.     Greensboro.     Dec.  19,  1889.     W.  C.  Avery. 
No.   351.     Male.     Greensboro.     Jan.   22,   1890.     W.    C.   Avery. 
No.  817.     Female.     Greensboro.     Mar.  24,  1891.     W.  C.  Avery. 
No Odd  specimen — no  data. 

97.     ANTROSTOMUS  CAROLINENSIS   (Gmelin). 
CHUCK-WILL'S  WIDOW. 

Entered  under  the  record  of  No.  34  (old  series),  an 
adult  female,  taken  at  Greensboro,  Sept.  3,  1877,  the 
stomach  of  which  contained  "debris  of  large  beetles,"  is 
this  note : 

"This  bird  is  found  in  Alabama  only  in  warm  weather ; 
appearing  here  in  the  spring  and  leaving  on  the  approach 
of  cold  weather.  It  is  insectivorous  hence  it  must  go  to 
some  climate  farther  south,  where  insects  abound  dur- 
ing our  winter." 

Of  course  the  Doctor  had  reference  to  flying  insects 
such  as  comprise  the  food  of  the  goatsuckers. 


AVERY  BIRD  COLLECTION  65 


The  stomach  of  No.  49,  listed  below,  also  contained 
"debris  of  beetles." 

"Common.     Summer  resident.     Breeds."    (1890e). 

"On  May  third  (1890),  shot  either  a  male  chestnut 
sided  warbler  or  a  male  black-throated  green  warbler. 
Lost  it.  While  trying  to  find  it  flushed  Antrostomus 
carolinensis  from  her  nest.  Have  since  flushed  her  three 
times  from  her  nest,  and  have  not  yet  found  that  she 
has  carried  her  egg  off  in  her  mouth  as  Davie  quotes 
Audubon  as  saying."  (Original  notes.) 

"May  10,  1891.  Sent  Captain  Bendire  an  egg  of  the 
chuck-will's  widow.  Nest  found  on  the  bare  ground 
about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  this  side  of  the  Long  Bridge,  in 
an  oak  wood  on  the  north  side  of  the  Milwood  road. 

"June  11,  1891.  Set  of  eggs  of  A.  carolinensis,  found 
near  the  brick  church  on  the  Millwood  Road;  half  incu- 
bated. Sent  to  Captain  Chas.  E.  Bendire."  (Original 
notes.) 

No.  34Bis.     Female.     Greensboro.     Sept.  3,  1879.     W.  C.  Avery. 
No.  49.     Male-ad.     Greensboro.     Apr.  5,  1888.     W  .C.  Avery. 
No.   522.     Female.     Greensboro.     May  28,   1890.     W.   C.  Avery. 
No.    900.     Male-hornot.     Greensboro.      Aug.    23,    1891.     W.    C. 
Avery. 

98.     ANTROSTOMUS  VOCIFERUS  VOCIFERUS   (Wilson). 
WHIP-POOR- WILL. 

"Rare.     Spring  and  autumn  migrant."   (1890e). 

Oct.  14,  1890,  the  Doctor  records  seeing  a  whip-poor- 
will  "on  a  wooded  hillside  about  !/2  mile  north  of  Pine 
Knoll,"  near  Greensboro. 


99.     CHORDEILES  VIRGINIANUS  VIRGINIANUS  (Gmslin). 

NlGHTHAWK. 

"Bullbat."- 

"On  Sept.  22,  1887,  Dr.  Avery  "saw  large  flights  of 
nighthawks  late  in  the  evening,  flying  south;  appeared 
to  be  a  migratory  wave."  Large  numbers  were  recorded 
again  next  day. 

"Common.  Summer  resident.  Breeds.  Abundant 
during  autumn  migration."  (1890e). 

3— AB 


66        GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF  ALABAMA 

It  is  not  probable  that  subspecies  virginianus  breeds 
in  Hale  County.  Though  the  specimen  listed  below  was 
taken  in  May  it  could  easily  have  been  a  migrating  bird. 

No.    510.     Male.     Greensboro.     May    8,    1890.     W.    C.    Avery. 

100.  CHORDEILES  VIRGINIANUS  CHAPMANI   (Coues). 

FLORIDA  NIGHTHAWK. 

"Bullbat." 

About  half  of  Dr.  Avery's  only  published  note  on  the 
nighthawk,  given  under  the  preceding  subspecies,  is  really 
applicable  to  chapmani  for  this  is  the  breeding  bird  in 
Hale  County.  The  following  breeding  record  is  taken 
from  the  Doctor's  original  notes: 

"June  10,  1891.  Set  of  eggs  of  Chordeiles  virginianus; 
incubation  advanced;  found  by  a  negro  on  the  bare 
ground  in  a  cottonfield." 

No.  533.     Female.     Greensboro.     June  26,  1890.     W.   C.  Avery 
No.  552.     Male-hornot.     Greensboro.       July     26,     1890.     W.   C. 
Avery. 


101.     CH^STURA  PSLAGICA    (Linnseus). 
CHIMNEY  SWIFT. 

"Abundant.     Summer  resident.     Breads."    (1890e). 

No.  196.     Female.     Greensboro    (Millwood) .   Sept.  7,  1889.     W. 
C.  Avery. 


102.     ARCHILOCHUS   COLUBRIS    (Linnaeus). 
RUBY-THROATED  HUMMINGBIRD. 

That  Dr.  Avery's  enthusiasm  was  boundless  cannot  be 
denied  when  it  is  known  that  his  twenty-fifth  specimen 
was  a  bird  of  this  tiny  species.  It  was  taken  on  that 
remarkable  17th  of  June,  1876,  when  the  Doctor  put  up 
skins  of  a  number  that  would  have  done  credit  to  a  more 
seasoned  collector.  He  writes  that  he  had  intended  to 
mount  this  specimen  but  had  not  the  necessary  wire,  so 
merely  made  a  skin  of  it. 

"Abundant.     Summer  resident.     Breeds."  (1890e). 

The  stomach  of  a  hummer  taken  Sept.  21,  1893,  at 
Greensboro,  "was  full  of  insects." 


AVERY  BIRD   COLLECTION  67 


Hummingbirds  were  recorded  as  abundant  in  Baldwin 
County,  Sept.  16-Oct.  2,  1892. 

No.  560.     Female.     Greensboro.     Aug.  11,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No Female.     No  data. 

No Male.     No  data. 

103.     TYRANNUS  TYRANNUS   (Linnseus). 

KINGBIRD. 
"Bee  Martin."     "Bee-Bvrd." 

The  first  mention  found  of  this  species  is  under  date  of 
June  9,  1876,  when  Dr.  Avery  entered  in  his  journal,  as 
No.  15,  an  adult  male  taken  at  Greensboro.  He  writes: 

"Stomach  contained  insects  alone.  A  most  useful  bird 
although  he  destroys  a  few  bees.  Who  knows  how  many 
thousands  of  cotton  flies  this  active  little  bird  may  de- 
stroy? His  wings  being  formed  for  rapid  and  powerful 
flight,  he  seems  to  be  the  terror  of  carnivorous  birds,  at 
least  of  the  heavier  and  more  awkward  genera,  known 
by  ornithologists  as  buzzards.  The  hawk  proper  or  blue- 
darter  as  it  is  stupidly  called,  would  be  more  than  a 
match  for  this  tyrant." 

The  following  is  an  entry  made  sometime  in  June,  1876 
(though  not  dated),  in  the  Doctor's  "Oological  Register," 
as  he  called  it: 

"No. 5-15  Nest  of  Tyrannus •  carolinensis  (Bee-bird). 
This  nest  was  far  out  on  one  of  the  later  branches  of  a 
sweet  gum  (liquidambar  tree).  In  attempting  to  pull  in 
the  limb  and  secure  the  nest,  the  limb  parted  company 
with  the  stem  to  which  it  was  attached  and  threw  all  the 
eggs  to  the  ground,  very  much  to  my  disappointment  as 
it  was  the  first  nest  of  a  bee-bird  hat  I  had  ever  seen. 
The  eggs  are  white,  dotted  with  reddish  specks  about  the 
size  of  a  pin  point." 

"Common.  Summer  resident.  Breeds.  This  bird  is  not 
nearly  so  destructive  to  bees  as  the  summer  tanager 
(Piranga  rubra)."  (1890e). 

No.  473.  Male.     Greensboro.     April  21,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  474.  Male.     Greensboro.     April  21,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  488.  Male.     Greensboro.     April  29,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  489.  Female.     Greensboro.     April  29,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  837.  Male.     Greensboro.     May  8,  1891.     W.  C.  Avery. 


68        GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF  ALABAMA 


104.     MYIARCHUS  CRINITUS    (Linnaeus). 
CRESTED  FLYCATCHER. 

"Common.     Summer  resident.     Breeds. "   (1890e). 

"May  31,  1891.  Asbury  McShan  took  a  nest  of  M.  crin- 
itus  (Crested  flycatcher)  ;  set  of  five,  slightly  incubated; 
nest  in  a  hollow  mulberry  about  ten  feet  from  the  ground." 
(Original  notes). 

No.  458.     Male.     Greensboro.     Apr.   14,   1890.     W.   C.   Avery. 
No.  670.     Male.     Greensboro.     Sept.   12,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

105.     SAYORNIS  PHOEBE   (Latham). 
PHOEBE. 

"Common.     Winter  resident."  (1890e). 

No.    260.     Male.     Greensboro.     Nov.    5,    1889.     W.    C.    Avery. 
No.   309.     Male.     Greensboro.     Dec.   11,   1889.     W.   C.   Avery. 
No.  340.     Female.     Greensboro.     Jan.  4,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 
No.  738.     Female.     Greensboro.     Oct.  7,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 
No.  808.     Male.     Greensboro.     Dec.  13,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 
No.  1089.     Male.     Greensboro.     Oct.  15,  1893.     W.  C.  Avery. 

106.     MYIOCHANES  VIRENS    (Linnseus). 
WOOD  PEWEE. 

"Abundant.     Summer  resident.  Breeds."    (1890e). 

Recorded  as  late  as  Oct.  24  (1890)  at  Greensboro. 

The  stomach  contents  of  an  adult  male  taken  June  22, 
1888,  at  Greensboro,  were  recorded  as  Hymenoptera  and 
Coleoptera. 

No.  516.  Male.  Greensboro.  May  12,  1880.  W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  543.  Male.  Greensboro.  July   16,    1890.  W.    C.   Avery. 

No.  674.  Male.  Greensboro.  Sept.  16,  1890.  W.   C.  Avery. 

No.   753.  Male.  Greensboro.  Oct.    15,    1890.  W.    C.   Avery. 

107.  EMPIDONAX  FLAVIVENTRIS   (W.  M.  &  S.  F.  Baird). 
YELLOW-BELLIED  FLYCATCHER. 

"Rare.  There  are  two  specimens  in  my  collection; 
one  taken  by  C.  S.  Brimley  at  Millwood,  on  September 
20  of  this  year,  the  other  by  myself  on  the  23rd  of  that 
month.  These  are  the  only  examples  of  this  bird  that  I 
have  met  with."  (1819a). 

No.  691.  Male.  Greensboro  (Millwood).  Sept.  20,  1890.  W. 
C.  Avery. 

No.  1066.     Male.     Greensboro.  Sept.  20,  1893.     W.   C.  Avery. 


AVERY  BIRD   COLLECTION  69 


108.     EMPIDONAX    VIRESCENS    (Vieillot). 
ACADIAN  FLYCATCHER. 

"Common.     Summer  resident.  .Breeds."    (1891a). 

After  recording  an  adult  female  taken  at  Greensboro, 
May  25,  1889,  the  Doctor  noted :  "This  bird  was  incubat- 
ing. Nest  of  gray  moss  in  a  shag-bark  tree,  12  ft.  from 
ground;  nest  suspended  by  the  rim;  shallow." 

No.   548.  Male.     Greensboro.     July  22,   1890.     W.   C.   Avery. 

No.  549.  Female.     Greensboro.     July  22,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  573.  Male.     Greensboro.     Aug.   14,   1890.     W.   C.  Avery. 

No.  597.  Male.     Greensboro.     Aug.  22,   1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  666.  Female.     Greensboro.     Sept.  11,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  6<>6.  Male.     Greensboro.     Sept.  23,  1890.     W.   C.  Avery. 

No.  705.  Female.     Greensboro.     Sept.  25,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  920.  Female.     Greensboro.     Sept.  10,  1891.     W.  C.  Avery. 


109.     OCTOCORIS  ALPESTRIS  ALPESTRIS    (Linnseus). 
HORNED  LARK. 

"Only  two  notes  can  be  found  in  Dr.  Avery's  catalogues 
concerning  this  species.  These  follow: 

"No.  1012  (listed  below  was  captured  from  a  small 
flock  of  six  horned  larks,  form  known  as  prairie;  they 
were  feeding  in  the  snow  not  forty  steps  from  the  Greens- 
boro depot.  The  very  cold  weather  of  the  season  must 
account  for  the  presence  of  the  horned  lark  so  far 
south." 

"A  flock  of  about  a  dozen  prairie  horned  larks  was 
seen  on  the  20th  and  six  of  them  were  captured  within 
fifty  yards  of  the  Greensboro  station."  (This  note -fol- 
lowed the  entry  of  No.  1012,  listed  below.) 

It  will  be  seen  that  the  Doctor  considered  all  these 
specimens  representatives  of  the  form  praticola,  but  Mr. 
Oberholser  of  the  U.  S.  Biological  Survey  refers  them  to 
alpestris. 

No.   1012.  Male.     Greensboro.     Jan.   19,   18993.     W.   C.  Avery. 

No.  1013.  Female.     Greensboro.     Jan.  20,  1893.     W.  C.  Avery, 

No.  1014.  Male.     Greensboro.     Jan.  20,  1893.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  1015.  Male.     Greensboro.     Jan.  20,  1893.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  1016.  Female,     Greensboro.     Jan.  20,  1893.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  1017.  Male.     Greensboro.     Jan.  20,  1893.     W.  C.  Avery. 


70        GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF  ALABAMA 


110.  OCTOCORIS  ALPESTRIS  PRATICOLA  (Henshaw). 

PRAIRIE  HORNED  LARK. 

The  following  specimen,  collected  from  the  same  flock 
as  the  last  five  listed  under  the  preceding  subspecies,  has 
been  referred  to  praticola  by  Mr.  Oberholser. 

No.  1018.     Male.     Greensboro.     Jan.  20,  1893.     W.  C.  Avery. 

111.  CYANOCITTA  CRISTATA  FLORINCOLA    (Coues). 

FLORIDA  BLUE  JAY. 
'"Jaybird." 

"Abundant.     Resident.     Breeds."    (1891a). 

No.  235.     Sex    (?).     Greensboro.     Oct.   8,   1889.     W.   O.  Avery. 

No Male-hornot.     Greensboro.     July  23,  1891.  W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  1040.     Female.     Greensboro.     Apr.  8,  1893.     W.  C.  Avery. 
No Odd  specimen — no  data. 

112.  CORVUS  BRACHYRHYNCHOS  PAULUS  (Howell).' 

SOUTHERN  CROW*. 

"Abundant.     Resident.     Breeds."    (1891a). 

From  the  following  note  it  would  appear  that  the  Doc- 
tor occasionally  turned  his  medical  skill  along  avian 
lines : 

"On  February  28th  (1891)  a  crow  was  shot  and 
wounded.  The  broken  wing  has  been  amputated  and  I 
hope  that  he  will  prove  a  more  amiable  captive  than 
the  ferocious  crow-blackbirds.  At  this  time  he  seems  to 
have  recovered  from  the  wound." 

Crows  were  recorded  as  abundant  in  Baldwin  County, 
Sept.  16-Oct.  2,  1892. 

NQ.  224.     Male-juv.     Greensboro.     Sept.  28,  1889.     W.  C.  Avery. 
No.  225.     Male-ad.     Greensboro.  Sept.  28,  1889.     W.  C.  Avery. 
No.  295.     Female-ad.     Greensboro.     Dec.  7,  1889.     W.  C.  Avery. 

113.     DOLICHONYX  ORYZIVORUS   (Linnaeus). 
BOBOLINK. 

"Not  common.     Spring  migrant."    (1891a). 

The  specimens  listed  below  were  taken  in  Carl  Tut- 
wiler's  oat  field;  stomachs  contained  oats  and  debris  of 
beetles. 

No.  137.     Female.     Greensboro.     May  15,  1889.  W.  C.  Avery. 
No.  138.     Male-ad.     Greensboro.     May  15,  1889.     W.  C.  Avery. 

*Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Wash.,  Vol.  XXVI,  pp.  199-202,  Oct.  23.  1913. 


AVERY  BIRD   COLLECTION  71 


114.     MOLOTHRUS  ATER  ATER    (Bpddaert). 

COWBIRD. 

In  a  letter  to  the  Editor  of  the  "American  Field,"  in 
1884,  Dr..  Avery  wrote : 

"This  is  the  first  of  the  Icteridae  to  appear  here,  com- 
ing early  in  the  Fall."  (1884). 

In  1891  the  following  appeared: 

"Abundant.  Resident  from  the  middle  of  July  till 
April.  This  bird  not  having  the  care  of  rearing  its 
young  as  others,  does  not  seem  to  tarry  long  in  its  north- 
ern home."  (1891a). 

No.  922.  Male-hornot.  Greensboro.  Sept.  14,  1891.  W.  C. 
Avery. 

No.   949.     Male.     Greensboro.     Nov.   1,    1891.     W.    C.    Avery. 

115.  AGELAIUS  PHGENICEUS  PHCENICEUS   (Linnajus). 
FLORIDA  RED-WING. 

The  specimen  listed  below  has  been  referred  to  the  typ- 
ical subspecies  by  Mr.  Oberholser. 

No.  339.     Male.     Greensboro.     Jan.  3,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

116.     AGELAIUS  PHCENICEUS  PREDATORIUS   (Wilson). 
RED-WINGED  BLACKBIRD.* 

"May  28,  - 1889.  Saw  several  pairs  of  red-wings,  A. 
phoeniceus  (Linn.).  Found  two  nests  in  the  marsh  north, 
of  the  Millwood  road,  on  the  Boiling  Branch.  One  nest 
was  empty,  the  other  contained  a  single  bird.  I  could 
not  determine  whether  the  empty  nest  had  been  just  com- 
pleted or  whether  the  eggs  had  been  hatched  and  the 
young  birds  had  left  the  nest.  One  of  these  nests  was 
three  feet  from  the  ground,  the  other  over  six.  They 
were  bulky  structures  for  so  small  a  bird;  both  built  in 
button-bushes  (Cephalanthus  occidentalis) . 

"Visited  these  nests  again  on  the  31st,  and  found  three 
nests  more  in  the  same  marsh.  These  last  were  on  reeds 
and  in  coarse  grass,  a  foot  or  two  from  the  ground;  one 
of  them  contained  two  eggs  and  a  ydung  bird  jus't 
hatched,  the  others  contained  nothing.  One  of  the  nests 
found  on  the  28th,  then  empty,  contained  two  eggs  on 
the  31st."  (Original  notes). 

*Mearns,  Proc.  Bio'l.  Soc.  Wash.,  Vol.  XXIV,  pp.  226-227,  1911. 


72        GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF  ALABAMA 

"Winter  resident.  A  few  remain  all  the  year  and  nest 
here.  Abundant."  (1891a). 

No.  69.     Male.     Greensboro.     June  2,  1888.     W.  C.  Avery. 
No.  70.     Female.     Greensboro.     June  2,   1888.     W.  G.  Avery. 
No.   326.     Male.     Greensboro.     Dec.   23,   1889.     W.   C.   Avery. 
No Male.     Greensboro.     Jan.  21,  1893.     W.  C.  Avery. 

117.     STURNELLA   MAGNA   MAGNA    (Linnams). 

MEADOWLARK. 
"Oldfield  Lark." 

It  is  not  certain  that  the  first  recorded  meadowlark, 
taken  Jan.  26,  1878,  was  of  this  subspecies,  but  as  three 
of  the  four  meadowlarks  now  in  the  collection  are  refer- 
able to  magna,  and  argutula  was  not  described  until 
twenty-one  years  later,  it  seems  reasonable  to  place  the 
record  here.  Dr.  Avery  records  the  fact  that  the  stomach 
of  this  specimen  "contained  portions  of  beetles,"  and 
writes  that  the  species  is  "very  common  in  this  state." 

It  is  certain  that  the  northern  form  is  abundant  in  Ala- 
bama during  the  fall  and  winter  months. 

No.  377.     Female.     Greensboro.     Feb.  21,   1890.     W.   C.   Avery. 
No.  764.     Male.     Greensboro.     Oct.  18,  1890.     W.   C.  Avery. 
No.  1098.     Male.     Greensboro.     Oct.  25,  1893.     W.   C.  Avery. 

118,     STURNELLA   MAGNA   ARGUTULA    (Bangs). 
SOUTHERN  MEADOWLARK. 

"Abundant.     Resident.     Breeds."  (1891a). 

Dr.  Avery  recorded  the  meadowlark  as  "common  in 
the  pine  woods  on  Perdido  Bay"  Sept.  16-Oct.  2,  1892. 
Possibly  both  forms  were  included  in  his  observations. 

No.  1032.     Female.     Greensboro.     Mar.  28,  1893.     W.  C.  Avery. 

119.     ICTERUS   SPURIUS    (Linnseus). 
ORCHARD  ORIOLE. 

"Abundant.     Summer  resident.     Breeds."  (1891a). 

No.  20.  Male-juv.     Greensboro.     May  18,  1887.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  457.  Male-juv.     Greensboro.     Apr.  14,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  466.  Male-juv.     Greensboro.     Apr.  19,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery] 

No.  475.  Male-juv.     Greensboro.     Apr.  21,  1890.     W.  C*  Avery' 

No.  480.  Male.     Greensboro.     Apr.  26,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  482.  Male.     Greensboro.     Apr.   26,   1890.     W    C    Avery 

No.   834.  Female.     Greensboro.     May  6,   1891. 


AVERY  BIRD   COLLECTION  73 


120.     ICTERUS  GALBULA  (Linnseus). 
BALTIMORE  ORIOLE. 

"Rare.  Have  observed  it  only  as  an  autumn  migrant." 
<1891a). 

No.    639.     Male.     Greensboro.     Sept.   4,    1890.     W.   C.   Avery. 
No.  697.     Female.     Greensboro.     Sept.  23,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 
No Odd  specimen — no  data. 

121.     EUPHAGUS  CAROLINUS    (Muller). 
RUSTY  BLACKBIRD. 

4t Winter  resident.     Rare."    (1891a). 

No.  984.  Male.  Greensboro.  Feb.  28,  1892.  W.  C.  Avery. 
No.  985.  Female.  Greensboro.  Feb.  28,  1892.  W.  C.  Avery. 
No.  986.  Male.  Greensboro.  Feb.  28,  1892.  W.  C.  Avery. 

122.     QUISCALUS    QUISCULA    QUISCULA    (Limueus). 
PURPLE  GRACKLE. 
"Crow  Blackbird." 

Though  Dr.  Avery's  manuscript  notes  on  the  purple 
grackle  are  rather  voluminous  and  of  considerable  in- 
terest, his  published  notes  consist  of  only  two  or  three 
terse  sentences.  The  first  of  these  appeared  in  1884, 
in  a  letter  to  the  Editor  of  the  "American  Field:"  "Ob- 
tained specimens  of  Scolecophagus  cyanocephales  (purple- 
headed  grackle)  (March  21st).  A  few  individuals  of 
this  species  remain  here  all  summer,  build  nests  and  rear 
young."  (1884). 

The  other  notes  appeared  in  his  "Birds  Observed  in 
Alabama — No.  3,"  published  in  1891.  These  follow  just 
as  they  were  printed: 

"Quiscalus  quiscula;  purple  grackle. — Rare,  the  usual 
form  being  intermediate  between  quiscula  and  agl&us. 

"Quiscalus  quiscula  aglaeus;  Florida  grackle. — Inter- 
mediate between  quiscula  and  aglaeus,  but  belonging 
rather  to  the  latter  form.  Resident.  Breeds."  (1891a). 

The  last  paragraph  is  incorrect.  All  the  spring  and 
summer  specimens  in  the  collection  from  the  vicinity  of 
Greensboro  are  referable  to  subspecies  quiscula.  The 
only  representatives  of  aglaeus  found  were  three  speci- 
mens from  Florida;  one  collected  on  Indian  River,  in 
1886,  by  C.  J.  Maynard,  and  two  taken  at  Micco,  in  1889, 
by  F.  M.  Chapman. 


74        GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF  ALABAMA 

The  oldest  extant  specimen  of  quiscula  is  No.  34,  taken 
Sept.  22,  1887.  Its  "stomach  contained  chicken  corn, 
maize  and  parts  of  insects."  In  connection  with  the  food 
of  the  bird  this  note,  following  the  entry  of  the  specimen 
in  the  catalog,  is  of  especial  interest :  "The  purple  grackle 
nests  here ;  it  is  not  so  common  as  it  was  when  the  coun- 
try was  first  settled;  forty-five  years  ago  it  was  one  of 
the  greatest  pests  which  the  planter  had  to  encounter ;  it 
pulled  up  acres  of  corn  as  soon  as  the  leaves  appeared 
above  the  ground.  Children  were  employed  to  scare  the 
crow  blackbirds  from  the  corn  fields,  and  numbers  were 
shot  without  apparent  diminution  of  the  individuals  com- 
posing their  ranks.  The  nest  of  this  bird  is  a  coarse 
structure  of  sticks  daubed  with  mud.  I  saw  a  small  col- 
ony of  purple  grackles,  in  1876,  building  their  nests  in 
the  trees  near  the  Mallory  Old  Place,  Beat  7." 

The  stomach  of  another  bird,  taken  May  7,  1889,  and 
presented  to  the  U.  S.  National  Museum,  contained  craw- 
fish. Still  another  specimen,  shot  the  same  day,  had 
eaten  insects.  A  bird  collected  June  5,  1889,  after  din- 
ing upon  coleopterous  insects,  had  taken  dewberries  for 
dessert.  The  stomach  of  another,  collected  next  day, 
contained  dewberry  seeds  and  grasshoppers;  but  the  cli- 
max is  reached  in  No.  732  (listed  below),  whose  stomach 
contained  acorns.  Thus  it  will  be  seen  that  the  purple 
grackle  has  a  very  varied  dietary. 

The  following  note,  appended  to  the  entry  of  No.  162 
in  the  Doctor's  catalogue,  under  date  of  June  6,  1889,  evi- 
dences the  fact  that  he  was  in  no  wise  free  from  the  usu- 
al collector's  difficulties:  "Measured  this  young  quis- 
cula and  left  it  on  my  table  to  skin,  but  the  rats  carried 
it  off!" 

The  following  notes  are  taken  verbatim  and  in  chrono- 
logical order  from  the  Doctor's  journals: 

"April  14,  1890.  Found  nest  of  Florida  grackle  (Quis- 
calus  quiscula  aglaeus)^ ;  nest  of  Dry  abates  pubescens  ex- 
cavated in  a  willow  limb  about  ten  feet  from  ground; 
nest  of  blue  gray  gnatcatcher  (Polioptila  caerulea)  on 
the  horizontal  limb  of  a  willow. 


AVERY  BIRD   COLLECTION  75 

"April  18th.  Visited  these  nests ;  those  of  the  grackles 
(Q.  q.  aglaeus)  were  in  willow  trees;  were  bulky  and 
built  of  coarse  grass  leaves;  they  were  situated  close  to 
the  body  of  the  tree,  and  supported  by  the  limbs  or 
sprouts  growing  from  the  axis. 

"My  climber  on  ascending  to  these  nests  found  an  egg 
in  each  of  them  (Q.  q.  Aglaeus),  the  other  nests  were 
empty. 

"25th.  Visited  the  nests  of  the  grackles  found  on  the 
14th  and  18th.  They  each  contained  five  eggs.  These 
I  collected  with  the  nests  and  sent  to  the  National  Mu- 
seum. 

Measurements  of  Nests. 

No.  23.  External  width,  6  inches;  external  depth,  4 
inches;  internal  width,  4.50  inches;  internal  depth,  3.50 
inches. 

"May  5th.  Found  four  nests  of  grackles  in  pines  near 
Julia  Woodruff's,  one  at  the  gate  about  twenty  steps 
from  house. 

"May  18th.  Saw  grackles  carrying  crawfish  to  their 
young;  their  nests  were  a  mile  from  the  grounds  where 
they  caught  the  crawfish. 

"June  1st.     Found  nest  of  purple  grackle  in  my  lot. 

"June  1st,  1890.  Saw  a  purple  grackle  catch  a  craw- 
fish. This  he  picked  out  of  shallow  water  as  quickly  as 
a  flycatcher  would  capture  an  insect  on  the  wing.  The 
crawfish  was  quite  large — his  captor  flew  off  about  10 
steps  from  the  branch  and  lighting  with  his  prey  began 
his  matin  meal  by  pecking  and  tearing  the  crustacean  in- 
to suitable  pieces  for  swallowing.  I  approached  too  near 
in  my  eagerness  to  see  the  performance,  when  the  grackle 
flew  about  a  hundred  yards,  and  lighting,  continued 
his  eating  on  the  remnant  of  the  crawfish  carried  with 
him.  I  had  a  good  view  of  Quiscalus  with  my  field  glass. 
A  red-wing  hopped  up  within  a  foot  of  the  spot  where 
the  feast  was  being  held,  and  looked  wistfully,  but  re- 
spectfully, on  till  Q.  q.  aglaeus  finished  and  flew  off,  when 
Agelaius  phoeniceus  began  to  consume  the  fragments. 
_As  soon  as  he  had  done  I  walked  to  the  spot  and  found  a 


76        GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF  ALABAMA 


thorax  bare  of  legs,  and  the  'meat'  eaten  from  the  inside 
of  the  shell. 

"Watched  a  pair  of  grackles  near  the  branch  till  some- 
time after  sunset ;  in  fact  the  moon  was  up  and  shining 
brightly.  I  thought  they  were  going  to  roost  on  the  oak 
at  'Contentment'  gate,  but  a  signal  from  one  being  given, 
they  suddenly  launched  themselves  into  the  air  and  soon 
disappeared  on  their  way  homeward. 

"Just  at  night  the  old  grackle,  with  nest  in  my  pasture, 
brought  either  a  crawfish  or  a  stick  to  feed  her  young  or 
complete  her  nest;  I  must  see  the  nest  to-morrow. 

"June  10,  1890.  I  have  two  young  grackles  captured 
May  20th ;  they  must  be  about  a  month  old.  They  began 
to  feed  themselves  yesterday  by  taking  the  bits  of  hard 
boiled  egg  and  crawfish,  blackberries  and  earthworms 
supplied  them.  They  are  interesting  pets,  much  attached 
to  me  and  always  recognize  my  presence  by  flying  against 
the  bars  of  their  prison,  or  screaming  as  loud  as  they 
can  and  shaking  their  wings  and  stretching  their  capa- 
cious jaws. 

"A  set  of  three  nestlings  of  Q.  q.  aglaeiis  were  taken 
by  me,  two  on  the  4th,  and  one  on  the  5th  of  June.  The 
nest  was  reported  to  me  on  the  1st  by  a  little  negro,  who 
said  that  he  saw  the  parents  carrying  material  to  build. 
On  the  third  the  little  birds  were  heard  crying  in  the 
nest  and  on  the  4th  two  were  captured  by  me  and  the 
third  nestling,  which  had  left  the  nest,  was  taken  on 
the  5th.  On  the  4th,  for  positive  identification,  the  par- 
ents were  both  shot. 

"On  the  morning  of  the  5th  I  heard  a  young  bird  com- 
plaining and  calling  in  vain  for  its  parents.  It  must  be 
rescued;  a  boy  was  sought  and  hired  to  climb  a  large 
oak  to  catch  this  one,  but  search  proved  fruitless  when 
the  boy  arrived. 

"About  an  hour  later  the  little  starvling  had  wandered 
accidentally  to  my  grove  near  the  house,  and  perched  up- 
on the  top  of  a  pine,  filled  the  air  with  its  piteous  cries 
for  food.  Soon  it  flew  from  the  tree  upon  the  chimney 
of  my  house,  then  upon  the  roof,  where  ;t  pursued  the 
pigeons  with  quivering  wings  and  loud  cries  for  food. 


AVERY  BIRD   COLLECTION  77 


They  retreating  from  this  strange  apparition,  it  pursued 
them  to  the  roof  of  the  pigeon  house.  It  must  be  caught 
and  fed,  poor  little  famished  bird.  A  long  fishing  pole 
dislodged  it  from  the  pigeon  house.  It  flew  into  a  pine 
nearby;  scared  from  this  it  lighted  in  another;  still 
pursued  by  hunger  and  not  knowing  where  to  go,  it  took 
a  long  flight  which  brought  it  near  to  the  ground,  but 
still  in  a  pine;  another  and  another  time  compelled  to 
fly,  it  left  the  pine  grove  and  flew  to  the  hillside  where 
its  parents  had  fallen  to  my  gun ;  again  frightened  from 
its  perch,  a  long  flight  brought  it  to  an  oak  where  it  set- 
tled on  a  limb  near  the  ground ;  once  more  disturbed,  and 
its  wings  now  weak  with  constant  use,  it  made  about 
seventy-five  yards  of  trajectory  and  grappling  at  the  low- 
est limbs  of  a  willow  fell  to  the  ground.  The  cries  of 
hunger  were  soon  appeased  by  a  bountiful  supply  and 
the  little  captive  seems  happy  with  his  brothers.  Its  ef-* 
forts  to  escape  after  it  had  fallen  hungry  and  tired  to 
the  ground  were  in  vain ;  its  feeble  wings  refused  to  bear 
it  aloft. 

"Why  were  its  parents  killed?  A  problem  in  ornithol- 
ogy was  to  be  solved.  A  pair  of  grackles  must  be  col- 
lected, and  only  a  mated  pair!  to  prove  whether  the 
bronze  and  Florida  grackles  interbreed,  or  whether  they 
belong  to  different  species.  Three  mated  pairs  have  ak 
ready  been  collected,  and  there  has  yet  been  found  no 
crossing  of  the  two  species ;  hence  the  conclusion  is  that 
they  do  not  mate  except  with  their  own  kind.  This  was 
a  cruel  task  and  one  which  will  be  pursued  no  more  by 
me.  It  was  done  at  the  suggestion  of  Professor  Robert 
Ridgway  of  Washington  City."  ^.-j 

The  next  paragraph,  dated  June  11,  1890,  gives  the 
catalog  numbers  of  the  six  mated  birds  sent  to  Mr.  Ridg- 
way and  the  exact  localities  where  the  specimens  were 
collected.  There  is  also  a  short  discussion  of  relation- 
ships, but  this  is  substantially  the  same  as  the  published 
notes  of  1891,  already  quoted. 

"1891.  March  22,  The  crow  blackbirds  taken  on  May 
20th,  1890,  and  June  4th  and  5th  of  the  same  year,  lived 
harmoniously  together  till  they  were  full  grown  when 


78        GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF  ALABAMA 

the  oldest  male  killed  the  other  four  and  fed  upon  their 
brains.  The  door  of  the  cage  was  found  open  one 
morning  and  the  savage  bird  had  escaped  to  be  devoured 
by  the  cat ;  he  was  never  seen  after  that  day :  Sic  semper 
tyrannis." 

No.  34.     Female-juv.     Greensboro.  Sept.  22,  1887.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  732.     Male.     Greensboro.     Oct.  4,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  441   (?)      Male.     Greensboro.     April  3,  1891.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  842.     Male.     Greensbpro.     May  9,  1891.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.   844.     Male.     Greensboro.     May  12,   1891.     W.   C.  Avery. 

No.   845.     Female.     Greensboro.     May   13,  1891.     W.   C.  Avery. 

:NO.  855.     Male.     Greensboro.     May  26,  1891.  W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  856.     Male.         Greensboro.     May  28,  1891.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  863.     Female.     Greensboro.     June  1,  1891.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  865.  Female-hornot.  Greensboro.  June  2,  1891.  W.  C. 
A  very. 

No.  868.  Female-hornot.  Greensboro.  June  24,  1891.  W.  C. 
Avery. 

No.  873.  Male-hcrnot.  Anniston.  July  3,  1891.  W.  C.  Avery. 
»  No.  874.  Female-adult.  Anniston.  July  3,  1891.  W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  876.     Male-adult.     Anniston.     July  3,  1891.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  877.     Male-hornot.     Anniston.     July  3,  1891.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  1053.     Female.     Greensboro.     Apr.  29,  1893.     W.  b.  Avery. 

123.     QUISCALUS  QUISCULA  ^ENEUS  (Ridgway). 
BRONZED  GRACKLE. 

"Professor  Ridgway  considers  this  a  good  species,  and 
he  is  doubtless  right  in  his  belief.  Winter  resident. 
Does  not  breed  here.''  (1891a). 

The  stomach  of  specimen  No.  173,  collected  at  Greens- 
boro, July  17,  1889,  and  sent  to  Mr.  Ridgway,  contained 
beetles  and  grains  of  oats. 

No.   353.     Male.     Greensboro.     Jan.   24,   1890.     W.   C.   Avery. 
No.  354.     Male.     Greensboro.     Jan.  24,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 
No.  359.     Female.     Greensboro.     Jan.  31,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 
No.  360.     Female.     Greensboro.     Jan.  31,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 
No.  365.     Female.     Greensboro.     Feb.  3,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 
No.  1010.     Male.     Greensboro.     Dec.  12,  1892.     W.  C.  Avery. 


124.     MEGAQUISCALUS  MAJOR  MAJOR   (Vieillot). 
BOAT-TAILED  GRACKLE. 

Writing  of  his  trip  to  Baldwin  County,  Sept.  16- 
Oct.  2,  1892,  Dr.  Avery  records  seeing  several  boat-tails 
on  Dauphin  Island,  though  none  were  taken. 


AVERY  BIRD  COLLECTION  79 


125.     CARPODACUS  PURPUREUS  PURPUREUS  (Gmelin). 
PURPLE  FINCH. 

The  stomach  of  the  first  recorded  bird  of  this  species, 
a  specimen  taken  at  Greensboro,  Jan.  14,  1878,  "contain- 
ed debris  of  berries."  The  Doctor  writes  that  it  is  a 
rare  bird. 

Four  days  later,  recording  another  specimen,  he 
write:  "Winter  visitant;  seems  to  feed  on  seeds  of  va- 
rious trees  and  weeds.  I  have  seen  this  bird  eating  the 
seeds  of  the  Jamestown  weed.  This  bird  is  rare  in  Ala- 
bama. He  is  said  to  sing  well/ 

"Common  some  years;  others  rare.  Winter  resident." 
(189 la). 

This  little  note  is  found  under  date  of  March  15,  1890, 
in  the  Doctor's  catalog:  "The  purple  finch  has  been 
common  this  winter. 

No.  314.  Female.     Greensboro.     Dec.   13,   1889.     W.   C.  Avery. 

No.  391.  Male.     Greensboro.     Mar.   2,   1890.     W.   C.   Avery. 

No.  392.  Female.     Greensboro.     Mar.   2,    1890.     W.    C.   Avery. 

No.  411.  Male.     Greensboro.     Mar.  13,  1890.     W.   C.  Avery. 

No.  421.  Male.     Greensboro.     Mar.  15,   1890.     W.   C.  Avery. 

126.     PASSER  DOMESTICUS    (Linnaeus). 
ENGLISH  SPARROW. 

The  Doctor  did  not  deign  to  waste  ink  upon  this  feath- 
ered "varmint"  though  there  are  two  specimens  in  the  col- 
lection. The  crop  of  the  first  contained  corn,  that  of  the 
other  "grain." 

No.  254.     Male.     Greensboro.     Nov.  2,  1889.     W.   C.  Avery. 
No.  255.     Female.     Greensboro.     Nov.  2,  1889.     W.  C.  Avery. 

127.     ASTRAGALINUS  TRISTIS  TRISTIS  (Linnaeus). 
GOLDFINCH. 

The  first  goldfinch  recorded  by  Dr.  Avery  is  his  No. 
17  (old  series),  an  adult  female  taken  at  Greensboro, 
June  10,  1876.  He  entered  in  his  journal  under  that 
date:  "This  little  bird  is  not  very  common  in  this  por- 
tion of  Alabama.  In  early  spring  it  appears  in  little 
flocks,  which  soon  disband,  and  the  note  of  a  solitary 
bird  may  be  occasionally  heard,  as  he  flies  over.  Even 
after  the  season  for  pairing,  they  may  be  seen  together 
in  squads  of  five  or  six.  Do  they  build  their  nests  and 


80        GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF  ALABAMA 

rear  their  young  in  this  State.  Has  the  male  any  song 
peculiar  to  the  season  of  love?  These  are  questions  that 
I  cannot  answer.  'Je  ne  suis  qu'un  ane  en  ornitologie'." 

However,  he  did  answer  the  first  question,  and  also 
corrected  his  first  statement. 

"Common.     Resident.     Breeds."    (1891a). 

No.  292.  Female.     Greensboro.     Dec.  3,  1889.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.   349.  Female.     Greensboro.     Jan.    15,   1890.     W.    C.   Avery. 

No.  414.  Female.     Greensboro.     Mar.   13,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  416.  Male.     Greensboro.     Mar.   13,   1890.     W.   C.  Avery. 

No.  417.  Male.     Greensboro.     Mar.   13,   1890.     W.   C.  Avery. 

No.    635.  Male.     Greensboro.     Sept.    3,    1890.     W.    C.    Avery. 

128.     SPINUS  PINUS    (Wilson). 
PINE  SISKIN. 

"Met  with  during  spring  migrations.  Abundant  in 
:some  years,  and  rare  in  others."  (1891a). 

No.  380.     Female.     Greensboro.     Feb.  24,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 
No.  459.     Female.     Greensboro.     Apr.  14,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

129.     POCECETES  GRAMINEUS  GRAMINEUS   (Gmelin). 
VESPER  SPARROW. 

Jan.  26,  1878,  the  first  recorded  specimen  of  this 
species  was  taken  at  Greensboro.  Concerning  it  is  writ- 
ten: "Stomach  contained  small  seeds.  This  bird  is  a 
winter  visitant." 

"Abundant.     Winter  resident."  (1891a). 

No.  258.     Male.     Greensboro.     Nov.  5,  1889.     W.   C.  Avery. 
No.  1097.     Female.     Greensboro.     Oct.  25,  1893.     W.  C.  Avery. 

130.  PASSERCULUS  SANDWICHENSIS  SAVANNA  (Wilson). 

SAVANNA  SPARROW. 

"Abundant.     Winter  resident."      (1891a). 

No.  129.     Male.     Greensboro.     May  8,  1889.     W.  C.  Avery. 
No.  405.     Male.     Greensboro.     Mar.  10,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 
No.  407.     Male.     Greensboro.     Mar.  11,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 
No.  798.     Male.     Greensboro.     Oct.  25,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 
No Sex    (?).     Greensboro.     Nov.  25,   1893.     W.   C.  Avery. 

131.  AMMODRAMUS  SAVANNARUM  AUSTRALIS  (Maynard). 

GRASSHOPPER  SPARROW. 
"Yellow -Winged  Sparrow." 

Dr.  Avery's  early  difficulties  in  forming  an  acquaint- 
ance with  this  species  but  typifies  the  experience  of  most 


AVERY  BIRD   COLLECTION  81 

embryonic  ornithologists  with  members  of  the  sparrow 
family.  His  journal  records  of  his  first  specimens  are 
quite  interesting  and  are  given  here  practically  in  toto. 
The  first,  an  adult  male  (No.  16,  old  series)  was  taken 
June  9,  1876,  at  Greensboro,  and  presented  to  the  Smith- 
sonian Institution.  After  recording  the  measurements, 
color  of  feet  and  bill,  and  the  fact  that  the  stomach  con- 
tained insects,  the  Doctor  writes :  "This  is  a  most  in- 
teresting specimen  to  me.  I  think  I  recognize  in  his  sum- 
mer dress  an  old  acquaintance;  voice,  manners,  dress  all 
completely  changed.  It  must  be  the  sparrow  that  sings 
so  sweetly  in  the  hedges  and  in  the  foliage  of  evergreens 
in  winter.  It  is  possible  that  this  bird  spends  his  sum- 
mers here  and  I  had  never  found  it  out.  Go  to  Wash- 
ington little  fellow.  Professor  Baird  can  tell  all  about 
you." 

A  few  days  later,  June  17th,  he  records  an  adult  female 
(No.  21,  old  series)  and  writes:  "This  sparrow  the  same 
with  No.  16,  presented  to  the  Smithsonian  Institution, 
resembles  most  nearly  Passercidus  savanna,  the  savanna 
sparrow  (Genus  65  of  Coues'  'Key  to  North  American 
Birds').  My  specimens  differ,  however,  though  not  es- 
sentially, from  the  sparrow  described  in  the  'key'  as  the 
; savanna  sparrow.  The  markings  about  the  breast  of 
mine  are  not  the  same. 

'"How  little  we  use  our  eyes  is  proven  to  me  by  the 
discovery  of  this  sparrow,  which  I  have  always  taken 
for  the  chipping  sparrow  and  should  always  have  done 
so,  if  I  had  not  heard  his  curious  insect-like,  hardly  dis- 
tinguishable from  a  cricket's,  song.  If  this  is  the  sa- 
vanna sparrow  he  is  completely  metamorphosed,  and  close 
Inspection  could  alone  discover  the  resemblance  to  that 
bird.  The  savanna  sparrow  has  in  winter  a  whistle 
something  like  the  words  'see!  see!  see!'  much  prolonged. 
Everyone  is  acquainted  with  him,  who  takes  notice  of 
anything.  Even  the  flight  of  my  bird  is  not  like  that  of 
the  savanna  sparrow.  He  flies  like  a  wounded  bird  es- 
pecially just  before  he  lights,  not  with  the  usual  irregular 
flight  of  the  sparrow,  up  and  down,  this  side  and  that 
side.  This  however  is  nothing  unusual  in  the  breeding 


82        GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF  ALABAMA 

season,  as  many  birds  have  a  very  characteristic  flight 
at  that  time.  My  sparrow  flies  as  a  partridge  by  con- 
stant vertical  elevation  and  depression  of  the  wings. 
This  movement,  though  is  slow  and  peculiar  and  may 
be  assumed  as  that  of  the  turtle-dove  or  that  of  Icteria 
virens  (yellow-breasted  chat)  at  the  period  when  they 
are  making  love.  The  chat  is  not  only  'chatty'  at  the 
season  of  nesting,  but  his  flight  is  most  amusing.  It 
would  make  many  persons  laugh  to  see  him  perform  his 
aerial  evolutions." 

There  is  a  marginal  note,  written  a  little  later,  giving 
the  correct  identification  of  the  above  specimen.  The 
very  next  entry  is  another  grasshopper  sparrow,  taken 
the  same  day,  indicating  that  the  Doctor  was  at  this  time 
a  better  collector  than  an  ornithologist.  He  states  that 
"This  as  well  as  that  above  had  debris  of  insects  in 
stomach." 

In  August,  1889,  Dr.  Avery  published  the  following 
"Observations  on  the  Grasshopper  Sparrow  in  Hale 
County,  Alabama": 

"Hale  County  lies  between  Tuscaloosa  County  on  the 
north  and  Marengo  County  on  the  south;  its  western 
boundary  is  the  Warrior  River,  its  eastern,  Perry  County. 
The  grasshopper  sparrow,  Ammodromas  savannarum 
passerinus,  is  found  only  in  the  Canebrake  or  Black  Belt 
of  Hale  County.  On  its  northern  migratory  path  it  prob- 
ably finds  there  suitable  breeding  grounds;  and  that 
may  account  for  its  presence  in  summer  in  that  part  of 
the  county,  while  it  is  never  seen  at  all,  to  my  knowledge, 
in  the  less  fertile,  piney  and  sandy  portion  of  the  north 
of  the  county. 

"It  winters  farther  south,  and  makes  its  appearance 
in  this  locality  about  the  first  of  May,  when  it  begins  to 
breed.  A  nest  of  this  species  found  by  me  on  the  llth  of 
this  month  (May)  contained  five  eggs  slightly  incubated; 
it  was  in  a  depression  in  the  ground,  lined  with  grass, 
and  was  arched  or  domed  on  the  top.  The  eggs  were 
white  and  spotted  with  reddish-brown,  mostly  on  the 
larger  end,  and  not  differing  from  the  description  given 
of  the  eggs  of  the  grasshopper  sparrow  breeding  farther 
north. 


AVERY  BIRD  COLLECTION  83 

"The  specimens  of  this  sparrow  collected  by  me  in  this 
county  in  the  spring  and  summer  have  never  been  streak- 
ed, and  measurements  correspond  with  the  measurements 
of  this  species  given  by  Ridgway  in  his  'Manual/ 

"As  Mr.  Maynard  states,  a  southern  grasshopper  spar- 
row may  exist,  but,  if  so,  it  must  be  farther  south  than 
this  latitude,  which  is  about  the  33d  degree  north." 
(1889a). 

Two  years  later  this  note  was  included  in  his  "Birds 
Observed  in  Alabama" :  "Common  in  the  black  lands. 
Summer  resident.  Breeds."  (1891a). 

It  should  be  stated  here  that  this  species  is  a  perma- 
nent resident  in  Alabama. 

No.  127.  Female.     Greensboro.     May  8,  1889.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.   128.  Male.     Greensboro.     May  8,  1889.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  530.  Male.     Greensboro.     June  3,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  682.  Female.     Greensboro.     Sept.  17,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  957.  Male.     Greensboro.     Nov.  30,  1891.     W.  C.  Avery. 

132.  PASSERHERBULUS  HENSLOWI  HENSLOWI  (Audubon). 
HENSLOW'S  SPARROW. 

"Rare.  On  January  12  of  this  year  I  took  my  first  and 
only  specimen  of  this  species."  (1891a). 

The  original  note  in  the  Doctor's  catalog,  under  date 
of  Jan.  12,  1890,  reads:  "This  specimen  was  shot  to 
pieces  and  scarcely  enough  was  left  for  its  identification. 
It  was  shot  near  Myer's  Bluff  on  the  Warrior  River, 
while  I  was  shooting  partridges." 

133.     CHONDESTES  GRAMMACUS  GRAMMACUS  (Say). 
LARK  SPARROW. 

"The  habitat  of  this  bird,  as  given  in  the  A.  0.  U. 
Check  List,  is:  'Mississippi  valley  region,  from  Ohio, 
Illinois  and  Michigan  to  the  Plains,  south  to  Eastern 
Texas." 

"Every  summer  for  the  last  four  or  five  years,  I  have 
seen  sparrows  with  the  tail  feathers  tipped  with  white. 
They  occur  in  the  bfack  lands  southwest  of  Greensboro, 
Ala.,  in  bunches  or  flocks  of  five  or  six  individuals,  as  if 
they  might  be  the  family  of  the  parent  birds  and  their 
young.  They  are  rare,  however,  as  I  have  met  with 


84        GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF  ALABAMA 

them  perhaps  only  once  or  twice  during  the  summer,  and 
always  in  July.  It  has  been  my  misfortune  never  to 
secure  a  specimen  of  these  sparrows,  so  as  to  remove 
all  doubt  as  to  their  identity.  In  the  summer  of  1887,  in 
July,  while  returning  home  from  a  barbecue  and  shoot- 
ing match,  given  by  Mr.  R.  Jeffries,  not  far  from  that 
gentleman's  home,  two  large  sparrows,  with  the  tails 
tipped  with  white,  rose  from  the  grass  in  front  of  my 
horse,  and  perched  on  the  fence  by  the  road.  I  had  a 
gun,  but  no  cartridges — at  least  none  that  I  thought  suit- 
able. I  returned  to  Mr.  Jeffries'  for  shells ;  he  had  none. 
I  then  took  two  heavily  loaded  shells,  which  had  already 
missed  fire,  and  inserted  them  in  my  gun,  a  Lefever  semi- 
hammerless;  the  gun  had  weak  mainsprings,  and  I  had 
turned  out  the  screws  on  the  under  side  of  the  frame  to 
strengthen  the  mainsprings.  This  caused  the  plungers 
to  project  so  much  from  the  standing  breech  that  I  had  to 
cock  the  gun  to  close  it.  In  letting  down  the  hammers, 
or  rather  in  uncocking  the  gun,  I  pressed  the  triggers 
before  placing  my  thumb  on  the  lever;  the  gun  was  dis- 
charged, and  eight  drams  of  powder  and  two  and  a  half 
ounces  of  shot  drove  the  butt  of  the  gun  with  such  force 
against  my  thigh  that  I  was  paralyzed  with  pain  and 
was  kqrs  de  combat  for  that  day,  and  for  some  time  after. 
I  was  thus  disappointed  in  obtaining  the  coveted  speci- 
men of  this  to  me  unknown  and  rare  bird. 

"In  July  of  1886,  while  on  my  way  to  Faunsdale,  I  saw 
two  miles  south  of  Greensboro,  about  a  half  dozen  of 
these  sparrows,  in  an  osage  orange  hedge.  I  had  my  gun, 
and  fired  at  one  of  the  birds,  but  failed  to  bag  it,  as  it 
fell  into  the  dense  hedge,  it  being  impossible  to  reach  the 
spot  where  it  fell,  or  search  for  it,  on  account  of  the 
thorns.  The  other  birds  disappeared  and  could  not  be 
found. 

"In  1885,  in  July,  I  saw  a  bunch  of  a  half  dozen  of 
these  same  sparrows,  on  the  Demopolis  road,  six  miles 
southwest  of  Greensboro. 

"On  July  28,  this  year,  while  I  was  riding,  a  mile  and 
a  half  south  of  Greensboro,  a  large  sparrow,  with  the 
white-edged  tail,  rose  from  the  grass,  and  lighted  on  a 


AVERY   BIRD   COLLECTION  85 

weed.  My  attention  was  at  once  attracted  by  the  tail 
marking,  as  well  as  by  the  peculiar  way  that  it  erected 
the  crown-feathers  into  a  crest,  as  the  meadow  lark  often 
does.  I  had  no  gun  this  time,  but  I  examined  the  bird 
with  my  field  glass,  and  could  see  the  white  superciliary 
lines  and  the  streaked  crown.  From  the  markings  of 
the  head  and  tail,  and  the  size  of  the  sparrow,  I  identified 
it  as  Chondestes  grammacm  (Say),  the  lark  sparrow." 
(1889b). 

"Not  common.  It  has  been  observed  in  July  and  Aug- 
ust. It  may  breed  here,  though  this  belief  is  without 
other  foundation  than  finding  the  bird  here  in  July  with 
its  young.  Found  chiefly  in  the  black  lands  (cane- 
brake),  in  the  southern  part  of  the  county."  (1891a). 

No.  583.     Female.     Greensboro.     Aug.  16,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 
No.  665.     Female.     Greensboro.     Sept.  11,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

134.     ZONOTRICHIA  ALBICOLLIS  (Gmelin). 
WHITE-THROATED  SPARROW. 

The  first  white-throats  are  recorded  under  date  of  Jan. 
20,  1878,  when  two  were  taken  at  Greensboro.  The  stom- 
ach of  one  "contained  seeds"  and  the  other  "gravel  and 
Indian  corn  meal."  Concerning  them  the  Doctor  wrote: 
"Winter  visitant.  One  of  our  commonest  sparrows  in 
winter."  ,  ,  ' 

In  1891  the  following  note  was  published :  "Abundant. 
Winter  resident."  (1891a). 

No.  256.  Female.     Greensboro.     Nov.  4,  1889.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  319.  Male.     Greensboro.     Dec.  19,  1889.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  373.  Female.     Greensboro.     Feb.  19,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.   394.  Female.     Greensboro.     Mar.    2,    1890.     W.    C.   Avery. 

No.  813.  Female.     Greensboro.     Mar.  17,  1891.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  819.  Female.     Greensboro.     Apr.   11,  1891.     W.   C.  Avery. 

No.  1102.  Female.     Greensboro.     Oct.  27,  1893.     W.  C.  Avery. 

135.     SPIZELLA  PASSERINA  PASSERINA   (Bechstein). 
CHIPPING  SPARROW. 

April  6,  1887,  Dr.  Avery  recorded  his  first  chippie  with 
the  following  note  which  furnishes  an  additional  example 
of  his  early  difficulties  with  the  sparrows:  "Specimen 
shot  with  three  others  feeding  on  the  ground  in  a  large 
flock.  One  of  the  remaining  three  was  Spizella  pusilla 


86        GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF  ALABAMA 

(field  sparrow).  This  specimen  of  the  chipping  spar- 
row is  the  first  that  I  have  ever  examined  closely  enough 
to  distinguish  it  from  the  field  sparrow.  I  have  never 
found  the  'chippey'  here  in  summer.  It  feeds  in  large 
flocks,  on  lawns  in  the  spring  especially." 

Naturally  one  wonders,  if  this  was  the  first  time  that 
the  Doctor  had  distinguished  the  chipping  from  the  field 
sparrow,  how  he  could  know  that  it  did  not  occur  in 
summer.  That  he  was  not  slow  to  correct  his  errors  is 
evidenced  by  this  published  note:  "Common.  Resident. 
Breeds."  (1891a). 

July  24,  1889,  is  recorded  the  observation  of  an  adult 
male  feeding  a  grasshopper  to  a  young  male  of  the  season. 

No.  139.     Male.     Greensboro.     May  18,  1889.     W.  C.  Avery. 
No.  284.     Male.     Greensboro.     Nov.  30,  1889.     W.  C.  Avery. 
No.  294.     Male.     Greensboro.     Dec.  6,  1889.     W.  C.  Avery. 
No.  324.     Male.     Greensboro.     Dec.  20,  1889.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No Male-hornot.  Greensboro.  Aug.  9,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  857.     Female.     Greensboro.     May  29,   1891.     W.  C.  Avery. 

136.     SPIZELLA  PUSILLA  PUSILLA.  (Wilson). 
FIELD  SPARROW. 

The  first  mention  of  this  sparrow  is  significant  in  that 
it  reflects  the  state  of  the  Doctor's  knowledge  of 
ornithology  at  the  time.  June  17,  1876,  he  records  his 
first  specimen  as  Spizella  socialis  and  writes :  "This  little 
bird  is  very  common.  It  has  a  very  cheerful,  and  loud 
song  for  a  bird  so  small.  At  the  North  it  is  called  'chip- 
pie.' It  hops  about  there  in  the  yards  and  like  the  robin 
is  very  gentle."  However,  he  secured  the  proper  tool 
(Coues'  "Key")  and  that  he  made  good  use  of  it  is  evi- 
denced by  the  fact  that  the  last  two  sentences  were 
scratched  and  the  following  note  inserted  on  the  margin : 
"Since  writing  this  I  see  my  mistake  in  calling  this  bird 
Socialis,  it  is  anything  but  social  in  its  habits.  It  is 
PusiUa" 

The  nest  and  eggs  of  the  field  sparrow  had  been  taken 
prior  to  the  capture  of  the  above  specimen.  As  No.  4  of 
the  "Oological  Register,"  is  entered  a  nest  taken  June  5, 
1876,  at  Greensboro.  Besides  the  bare  record  of  species, 
date,  and  locality,  there  is  the  following  paragraph:  "I 
had  supposed  till  I  found  this  nest,  that  this  little  bird 


AVERY  BIRD   COLLECTION  87 

built  its  nest  always  on  the  ground ;  because  a  good  many 
years  ago  I  found  the  nest  of  one  of  this  species  on  the 
ground,  in  a  sedge  field.  No.  4  was  built  in  a  little  shrub 
by  the  roadside." 

The  following  note  was  found  under  date  of  April  6, 
1887 :  "My  setter  puppy  swallowed  a  specimen  of  Spiz- 
ella  piisilla,  filled  with  arsenic.  I  poured  down  her  throat 
three  heaping  tablespoonfuls  of  salt;  Donna  vomited  the 
contents  of  stomach  and  is  now  relieved."  Even  the  dog 
found  the  sparrows  a  difficult  group! 

April  25,  1888,  a  set  of  3  eggs  was  taken  from  a  nest 
about  3  feet  from  the  ground  in  weeds  of  the  last  years' 
growth.  These  eggs  measured:  .47  by  .67,  .48  by  .69, 
and  .50  by  .70. 

The  Doctor's  only  published  note  is,  as  usual,  very 
much  to  the  point:  "Resident.  Breeds.  Abundant." 
(1891a). 

No.  425.     Female.     Greensboro.     Mar.  15,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  483.     Male.     Greensboro.     Apr.  26,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  1104.  Sex  (?).  Uniontown.  Nov.  9,  1893.  W.  C.  Avery. 
Albino. 

No.  1105.  Female.  Greensboro.  Dec.  11,  1893.  W.  C.  Avery, 
Albinistic. 

137.     JUNCO  HYEMALIS  HYEMALIS    (Linnaeus). 
SLATE-COLORED  JUNCO. 

"Common.     Winter  resident."     (1891a). 

No.  275.  Female.     Greensboro.     Nov.  23,  1889.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  276.  Female.     Greensboro.     Nov.  23,  1889.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  283.  Male.     Greensboro.     Nov.  30,  1889.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  304.  Female.     Greensboro.     Dec.   10,  1889.     W.   C.  Avery. 

No    323.  Male.     Greensboro.     Dec.   20,    1889.     W.    C.   Avery. 

No    395.  Female.     Greensboro.     Mar.  2,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  1099.  Male.     Greensboro.     Oct.  26,  1893.     W.  C.  Avery. 

138.     PEUC^EA  ^ESTIVALIS  BACHMANI  (Audubon). 
BACHMAN'S  SPARROW. 

Dr.  Avery,  like  others,  had  trouble  identifying  his  first 
Bachman's  sparrow.  July  8,  1886,  he  collected  an  adult 
male  which  he  entered  in  his  catalog  as  "S.  pusilla'1  with 
the  following  note :  "This  bird  corresponds  nearly  with 
Dr.  Coues'  description  of  S.  pusilla  but  the  yellow  at  the 
bend  of  the  wing  disagrees  with  the  characters  given  by 


88        GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF  ALABAMA 

him.  I  am  at  a  loss  how  to  explain  this  anomaly."  How- 
ever, he  did  soon  explain  the  "anomaly,"  because  next 
day  he  discovered  his  mistake  and  inserted  the  proper 
name. 

Another  specimen  was  taken  May  21,  1887,  the  stom- 
ach of  which  "contained  insects." 

The  following  extended  accounts  of  the  nesting  of  this 
species  appear  in  the  Doctor's  notes  for  1888 : 

"8th  May.  Found  nest  of  P.  ae  bachmani;  nest  domed ; 
on  hill  side  grown  up  in  old  field  pines ;  rear  of  nest 
supported  by  a  tuft  of  coarse  grass ;  the  entrance  looking 
upwards  at  an  angle  of  several  degrees ;  well  put  together 
and  compact;  visited  nest  several  times  before  I  found 
the  parent  at  home.  Although  I  attempted  to  catch  her 
on  the  nest,  by  going  behind  and  placing  my  hand  over 
the  opening,  she  fluttered  rather  than  flew  out  of  the 
nest,  running  on  the  ground,  and  not  rising  till  I  had 
followed  her  some  distance. 

"9th.  Found  nest  of  P.  ae  bachmani  in  a  patch  of  old 
field  pines  and  plum  bushes  (Prunus  chicasa).  This 
contained  three  young  and  one  egg  which  did  not  hatch. 
The  old  birds  were  perched  on  a  pine  some  fifteen  steps 
from  me  and  manifested  their  alarm  at  my  presence  by 
their  nervous  movements.  A  short  search  revealed  this 
nest  with  the  young  birds.  This  resembled  the  nest  found 
on  the  8th,  except  that  the  entrance  was  somewhat  more 
inclined  upwards  and  not  as  much  concealed  by  the  2 
tufts  of  grass  beside  which  it  was  placed. 

"May  23rd.  Found  nest  of  P.  ae.  bachmani  on  the 
slope  of  a  hill  covered  with  old  field  pines,  in  an  open 
place,  under  a  fallen  pine  branch,  with  some  coarse  grass 
growing  near  it.  The  parent  fluttered  from  under  my 
feet  which  had  disturbed  the  nest  by  striking  the  pine 
limb;  my  left  foot  touched  the  right  border  of  the  nest 
and  shook  the  limb  before  the  bird  moved.  She  threw 
herself  on  the  ground  about  a  foot  from  me,  and  then, 
literally  trembling,  every  feather  quivering  on  her  body, 
her  tail  spread  and  wings  drooping,  after  she  had  gone 
about  ten  feet  from  me  she  remained  in  view  beside  a 
pine  till  I  at  last  discovered  the  nest  under  my  very  feet. 


AVERY  BIRD   COLLECTION  89 

All  this  time  she  uttered  not  a  sound.  When  I  moved 
towards  her  she  ran  off  through  the  thick  weeds  and 
briars ;  and  finally  I  pursuing  she  pitched  upon  a  tree  and 
began  her  'seep!  seep!'  till  to  make  identification  sure  I 
reluctantly  shot  but  lost  her  in  the  dense  thicket  over 
which  she  was  perched. 

"June  3.  Found  nest  of  P.  ae  bachmani.  This  nest 
was  on  a  hill  covered  with  loblolly  pines  (P.  taeda)  and 
tall  grass,  but  the  situation  of  the  nest  was  open  and 
bare  except  for  some  scattered  tufts  of  grass  and  small 
Virginia  creepers.  The  entrance  to  the  nest  was  near 
the  ground  and  very  little  inclined  to  the  horizon.  As  in 
every  case  but  one  where  I  had  found  the  nest  of  bach- 
mani, the  noise  made  by  the  alarm  of  the  parent  at  my 
presence,  attracted  my  attention,  and  indicated  also  to 
me  in  this  instance  where  I  should  search. 

"While  looking  at  a  'mimosa'  (Albizzia  julibrissin)  and 
wondering  by  what  agency  it  had  been  brought  to  this 
unusual  spot  among  the  old  field  pines,  a  rustling  a  few 
feet  behind  me  and  the  hiss,  as  I  supposed,  of  a  snake, 
disturbed  my  meditations.  I  saw  the  sparrow  and  soon 
the  nest,  with  four  young  just  hatched.  The  old  bird 
did  not  fly,  but  stood  'seeping'  about  ten  feet  from  me. 
He  had  changed  his  scold  into  the  anxious  'seep !  seep'  of 
his  vocabulary,  'till  I  turned  towards  him,  when  he  ran 
off  through  the  grass  and  did  not  fly  until  he  had  led  me 
at  least  fifteen  steps.  He  then  rose  and  pitched  upon  a 
fallen  tree  top,  bobbing  up  and  down  much  after  the 
fashion  of  a  wren,  and  while  I  was  examining  him  with 
my  field  glass  he  broke  forth  into  song,  as  soft  and  sweet 
and  full  of  gladness  as  that  which  at  times  wells  from 
his  throat  when  the  shadows  of  evening  creep  over  his 
sombre  pines. 

"This  was  a  beautiful  structure,  when  compared  with 
one  which  I  found  on  the  23rd  of  May.  This  last  was 
scarcely  woven  into  a  fabric,  and  fell  to  pieces  when  I 
lifted  it  from  the  ground. 

"June  6th.  Found  nest  of  P.  ae.  bachmani.  This  nest 
when  found  contained  two  eggs ;  it  was  domed  as  the  prev- 
ious nests,  but  was  so  thin  and  poorly  constructed  that  I 


90        GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF  ALABAMA 


could  see  the  eggs  through  the  straw  as  I  stood  behind 
it.  The  parent  ran  from  the  nest.  I  have  yet  to  see  one 
fly  as  other  birds  do  when  disturbed  at  incubation.  They 
run ;  some  showing  great  alarm  for  the  safety  of  their 
little  thatched  domicile  and  its  contents  and  expressing 
it  by  a  sound  resembling  more  the  hissing  of  a  snake 
than  the  scolding  of  a  bird.  If  the  intruder  follows  they 
continue  to  run  till  they  have  led  him  some  distance 
from  the  nest  and  then  they  fly  upon  a  tree  and  begin 
their  'seep,  seep/  all  the  while  accompanying  these  sounds 
with  movements  up  and  down,  or  jerking  of  the  body  like 
a  wren. 

"These  birds  are  terrestrial  in  their  habits,  though 
when  flushed  they  often  light  in  trees.  Frequently  they 
rise  when  disturbed  suddenly,  with  an  audible  whir  which 
distinguishes  them  from  the  field  sparrow. 

"They  sing  at  all  hours  of  the  day;  but  especially  is 
their  song  striking  and  attractive  after  sunset,  and  when 
darkness  begins  to  descend — a  prelude  of  some  sweet 
soul-stirring  sounds  and  then  a  trill  louder  and  more 
melodious  than  that  of  the  field  sparrow.  This  prelude 
is  varied,  and  relieves  the  song  of  monotony;  the  little 
musician  seems  to  endeavor  to  make  himself  as  enter- 
taining as  possible,  by  frequent  change  in  the  .introduc- 
tory notes  of  his  strain." 

There  follow  a  few  more  nesting  records  condensed 
from  the  Doctor's  note  books : 

May  12,  1888.  Greensboro.  Nest  on  ground  between 
two  tufts  of  broom  sedge;  contained  three  young  and 
one  egg. 

June  29,  1888.  Greensboro.  Nest  in  an  old  field  near 
a  loblolly  pine,  on  the  edge  of  a  portion  of  the  primitive 
forest.  Four  eggs,  incubation  just  begun.  "Fayette 
Sheppard  was  ploughing  when  the  parent  bird  flew  from 
under  the  feet  of  his  oxen.  He  thought  the  bird  was  a 
snake  and  struck  several  times  at  the  place  where  he  had 
seen  it,  'till  he  discovered  the  nest." 

May  16,  1889,  the  Doctor  found  a  young  Bachman's 
sparrow  that  could  just  fly  and  a  nest  with  four  fresh 
eggs  of  the  same  species. 


AVERY  BIRD   COLLECTION  91 

In  view  of  the  extended  observation  of  this  bird  by 
Dr.  Avery  it  is  strange  that  his  published  account  should 
total  just  these  three  words:  "Common.  Resident. 
Breeds."  (1891a).  He  noted  the  species  in  Baldwin 
County  too,  between  Sept.  16th  and  Oct.  2,  1892.  . 

Several  of  the  skins  and  sets  of  eggs  were  presented 
to  Capt.  Chas.  E.  Bendire  of  the  Smithsonian  Institution. 

No.  312.  Male.     Greensboro.     Dec.    13,    1889.     W.    C.   Avery. 

No.  347.  Male.     Greensboro.     Jan.   12,   1890.     W.   C.   Avery. 

No.  367.  Male     Greensboro.     Feb.  7,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  378.  Male.     Greensboro.     Feb.   21,   1890.     W.   C.   Avery. 

No.  422.  Male.     Greensboro.     Mar.  15,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  513.  Male.     Greensboro.     May  11,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  647.  Female.     Greensboro.     Sept.  5,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  731.  Male.     Greensboro.     Oct.  4,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  734.  Female.     Greensboro.     Oct.  6,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

139.     MELOSPIZA   MELODIA   MELODIA    (Wilson). 
SONG  SPARROW. 

"Common.     Winter  resident."   (1891a). 

No.  263.  Female.     Greensboro.     Nov.  9,  1889.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  281.  Male.     Greensboro.     Nov.  30,  1889.     W.   C.  Avery. 

No.   296.  Female.     Greensboro.     Dec.    8,    1889.     W.    C.    Avery. 

No.  321.  Female.     Greensboro.     Dec.  20,   1889.     W.   C.  Avery. 

No.  345.  Female.     Greensboro.     Jan.  4,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  379.  Female.     Greensboro.     Feb.  21,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  410.  Female.     Greensboro.     Mar.  11,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.   790.  Male.     Greensboro.     Oct.   24,   1890.     W.   C.   Avery. 

No.  814.  Female.     Greensboro.     Mar.  17,  1891.     W.  C.  Avery. 

140.     MELOSPIZA  GEORGIANA  (Latham). 
SWAMP  SPARROW. 

"Common.     Winter  resident."  (1891a). 
A  late  spring  record,  May  3,  1891,  is  found  in  the  Doc- 
tor's journal. 

No.  268.     Male.     Greensboro.     Nov.  9,  1889.     W.  C.  Avery. 
No.  301.     Female.     Greensboro.     Dec.   10,   1889.     W.   C.  Avery. 
No   797.     Male     Greensboro.     Oct.  25,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 
No.  1087.     Male.     Greensboro.     Oct.  12,  1893.     W.  C.  Avery. 

141.     PASSERELLA  ILIACA  ILIACA   (Merrem). 
Fox  SPARROW. 

"Not  common.     Winter  resident."   (1891a). 
After  the  entries  of  Nos.  978  and  979  in  the  Doctor's 
catalog  appear  these  notes : 


92        GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF  ALABAMA 

"Today  (Jan.  19,  1892)  we  have  had  the  coldest  weath- 
er for  several  years;  sleet  and  ground  frozen.  I  have 
never  seen  the  fox  sparrow  near  any  habitation  unless 
it  were  very  cold.  In  a  very  cold  spell,  about  1876,  sev- 
eral came  into  the  yard  at  'Contentment,'  where  there 
were  also  many  more  birds  than  I  have  seen  lately.  Nos. 
977  and  978  were  shot  near  my  house  at  Pine  Knoll,  dur- 
ing the  very  cold  weather  of  the  19th.  Craws  contained 
weed  seed." 

"Saw  several  fox  sparrows  today  (Jan.  22,  1892)." 

No.  310.  Male.  Greensboro.  Dec.  13,  1889.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  369.  Male.  Greensboro.  Feb.  7,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  806.  Male.  Greensboro.  Nov.  19,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.   977.  Male.  Greensboro.  Jan.   19,   1892.     W.   C.   Avery. 

No.  978.  Male.  Greensboro.  Jan.  19,  1892.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  979.  Male.  Greensboro.  Jan.  22,  1892.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  981.  Male.  Greensboro.  Jan.  24,  1892.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  982.  Female.     Greensboro.     Jan.  25,  1892.     W.  C.  Avery. 

142.  PIPILO  ERYTHROPHTHALMUS  ERYTHROPHTHAL- 
MUS    (Linnaeus). 

TOWHEE. 

"Joree." 

"Common.     Winter  resident."    (1891a). 
No.  966.     Female.     Greensboro.     Dec.  29,  1891.     W.  C.  Avery. 

143.     PIPILO  ERYTHROPHTHALMUS  ALLENI  (Coues). 
WHITE-EYED  TOWHEE. 

Among  the  Doctor's  Baldwin  County  notes  for  the  per- 
iod from  Sept.  16th  to  Oct.  2,  1892,  is  the  following: 
"Towhee  was  common;  out  of  five  specimens  taken  one 
only  belonged  to  alleni,  the  others  being  typical  Pipilo." 
Only  three  of  the  Baldwin  County  specimens  are  now  in 
the  collection,  but  two  are  referable  to  alleni  and  one  to 
canaster. 

No.  998.     Male.     Baldwin  County.     Sept,  27,  1892.  W.  C.  Avery. 
No.    1000.     Male.     Baldwin    County.     Sept.    29,    1892.     W.    C. 
Avery. 

144.     PIPILO   ERYTHROPHTHALMUS    CANASTER    (Howell). 

ALABAMA  TOWHEE*. 

"Joree." 

This  is  the  breeding  form  in  Central  Alabama. 

*Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Wash.,  Vol.  XXVI,  pp.  199-202,   Oct.  23,   1913. 


AVERY  BIRD   COLLECTION  93 


No.  290.     Male.     Greensboro.     Dec.  2,  1889.  W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  1001.     Female.     Baldwin  Co.     Oct.  1,  1892.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  1090.     Male.     Greensboro.     Oct.  25,  1893.     W.  C.  Avery. 

145.     CARDINALIS  CARDINALIS  CARDINALIS    (Linnams). 

CARDINAL. 
"Redbird" 

Considering  how  common  and  easily  accessible  are  the 
nests  of  the  redbird  about  the  thickets  and  brier-patches 
in  spring,  it  is  not  surprising  that  Dr.  Avery  should  col- 
lect a  set  of  eggs  before  taking  the  bird  itself/  The  fol- 
lowing is  taken  from  his  early  "Oological  Register." : 

"No.  2.  Nest  of  Cardinal  Grosbeak  (Red-bird)—  Car- 
dinalis  virginianus — 27th  May,  1876.  I  discovered,  by 
the  twitterings  of  the  parent  birds,  this  nest  in  a  black- 
berry vine.  The  cardinal  builds  its  nest  on  trees  or 
shrubs  near  the  ground.  This  nest  contained  three  eggs, 
the  whole  'clutch/  I  waited  several  days  after  I  found 
it ;  expecting  the  old  bird  to  lay  another  egg ; ;  but  finding 
her  constantly  on  the  nest,  I  became  aware  that  she  was 
sitting." 

The  small  number  of  eggs  laid  by  the  cardinal  seems 
to  have  interested  the  Doctor,  for  in  1890  he  published 
the  following  under  the  title  "Number  of  Eggs  in  a  Set 
of  the  Cardinal.": 

"In  Hale  county,  Alabama,  three  eggs  constitute  a  com- 
plete set  of  the  cardinal.  More  than  three  have  never 
been  found  by  me,  nor  by  any  one  else  whom  I  know  in 
this  locality.  Dr.  J.  M.  Pickett  of  Cedarville,  Alabama, 
has  had  the  same  experience  as  myself ;  he  has  never  col- 
lected a  set  of  more  than  three  of  the  cardinal,  although 
he  has  taken  many  sets. 

"The  cardinal  is  one  of  our  commonest  birds,  nesting 
from  early  in  April  till  September,  and  therefore  produc- 
ing more  than  one  set.  This  bird  may  lay  fewer  eggs 
to  the  set  than  in  localities  farther  north,  where  the 
nesting  period  is  short,  and  where  one  set  may  be  the 
usual  number. 

"Davie  in  Nests  and  Eggs  of  North  American  Birds 
says  that  the  red-eyed  vireo  lays  three  or  four  eggs;  in 
this  latitude  it  lays  only  three.  Having,  like  the  cardinal, 


94        GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF  ALABAMA 

a  longer  time  for  nesting,  it  produces  fewer  eggs  to  the 
set,  but  in  all  probability  lays  three  more  sets  than  in 
colder  regions.  It  would  be  a  very  great  surprise  to  me 
to  find  a  set  of  more  than  three  eggs  in  a  nest  of  the  car- 
dinal or  of  the  red-eyed  vireo."  (1890c). 

The  same  year  he  entered  in  his  journal :  "This  bird 
(No.  803)  had  not  long  finished  moulting;  there  were 
some  pin  feathers  in  his  wing.  It  may  be  observed  in 
this  connection  that  the  cardinal  moults  very  late;  and 
I  believe  he  rears  at  least  two  sets  of  young  every  season. 
He  may  be  heard  singing  late  in  August  when  most  other 
birds  are  silent,  as  they  are  losing  their  feathers  and  don- 
ning a  new  suit,  a  process  which  takes  the  music  out  of 
them." 

"Abundant.     Resident.     Breeds."     1891a). 

No.  287.  Female.     Greensboro.     Nov.  30,  1889.     W.   C.  Avery. 

No.  288.  Male.     Greensboro.     Nov.  30,  1889.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.   316.  Male.     Greensboro.     Dec.   13,   1889.     W.   C.   Avery. 

No.  605.  Male-hornot.  Greensboro.  Aug.  23,  1890.  W.  C. 
Avery. 

No.  758.  Female.     Greensboro.     Oct.  16,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  803.  Male.     Greensboro.     Nov.  2,  1890.     W.   C.  Avery. 

No.  908.  Male-hornot.  Greensboro.  Aug.  29,  1891.  W.  C. 
Avery. 

No.  942.  Male.     Greensboro.     Sept.  29,  1891.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  974.  Male.     Greensboro.     Jan.    10,    1892.     W.   C.   Avery. 

No.  980.  Male.     Greensboro.     Jan.  22,  1892.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  ..  Female.     No  data. 


146.     ZAMELODIA  LUDOVICIANA   (Limueus). 
ROSE-BREASTED  GROSBEAK. 

"It  has  been  observed  only  as  an    autumn    migrant. 
Rare."     (1891a). 

No.  702.     Female.     Greensboro.  Sept.  25,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  1071.     Female.     Greensboro.  Sept.  26,  1893.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  1076.     Female.     Greensboro.  Oct.  4,  1893.     W.  C.  Avery. 
No.  .         Male.     No  data. 


147.     GUIRACA  C^RULEA  C^ERULEA    (Linnaus). 
BLUE  GROSBEAK. 

After  cataloging  his  first  specimen  of  this  species,  an 
adult  male  taken  at  Greensboro,  June  6,  1876,  Dr.  Avery 
writes : 


AVERY   BIRD   COLLECTION  •        95 


"This  bird  is  not  common  in  this  part  of  Alabama.  His 
song,  which  I  have  heard  only  once,  is  very  sweet.  He 
seems  to  be  granivorous,  as  he  may  be  seen  along  the 
edges  of  oat  fields,  or  in  the  roads  at  times — where  grain 
may  be  found  either  in  the  dung  of  horses  or  wasted 
there  when  carried  to  mill. 

"He  is  very  shy  for  so  small  a  bird.  His  call  note  is  a 
chirp  like  that  of  the  cardinal  grosbeak,  with  this  modi- 
fication :  the  chirp  of  the  blue  grosbeak  is  to  the  chirp  of 
the  red-bird  as  the  ring  of  a  silver  dollar  is  to  the  thump 
of  a  copper  cent  or  to  that  of  a  nickel. 

"The  indigo-bird  has  a  note  very  similar  to  the  chirp 
of  these  two  grosbeaks,  but  much  feebler. 

"The  blue-grosbeak  disappears  from  this  part  of  Ala- 
bama on  the  approach  of  cold  weather. " 

Eleven  days  later  a  female,  whose  "stomach  contained 
grains  of  wheat  and  debris  of  insects,"  was  taken  in  the 
same  locality. 

Early  in  June,  1888,  the  Doctor  collected  a  set  of 
four  eggs,  with  nest,  from  a  sweet  gum,  about  three  feet 
from  the  ground,  but  unfortunately  he  neglected  to  record 
the  exact  date.  Dimensions  of  nest:  Circumference 
around  rim,  11.50  in. ;  outside  depth  3  in. ;  inside  depth, 
1.50  in. ;  outside  diameter,  4  in. ;  inside  diameter,  2.75  in. 
Materials :  "Foundation :  dried  stems  of  herbs ;  then  also 
woven  in,  portions  of  snake  shed;  then  leaves  of  coarse 
grass  woven  in  with  the  leaves  of  deciduous  trees;  the 
whole  lined  with  dry  grass  stems.  This  nest  was  on  a 
pine  hill  in  an  open  locality  a  few  steps  from  a  path." 

"Common.     Summer  resident.     Breeds."  (1891a). 

No.  424.  Male.     Greensboro.     Apr.  18,  1881   (?).  W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  568.  Male-iuv.     Greensboro.     Aug.  12,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  709.  Female.     Greensboro.     Sept.  26;  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  710.  Female.     Greensboro.     Sept,  26,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  854.  Male.     Greensboro.     May  23,  1891.     W.  C.  Avery. 

148.     PASSERINA    CYANEA    (Linnams). 

INDIGO  BUNTING. 
"Indigo  Bird." — "Summer  Bluebird" 

The  Doctor's  first  specimen  of  this  species  was  an  adult 
male  taken  at  Greensboro,  June  3,  1876.  Its  stomach 
"contained  seeds,  sand,  and  small  oblong,  white  bodies 


96        GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF  ALABAMA 

which  I  took  for  seeds  not  matured."  After  the  entry 
of  the  specimen  the  Doctor  wrote : 

"This  bird  is  a  beautiful  blue,  which  for  the  want  of  a 
better  name  I  have  called  'summer  blue-bird.'  He  is 
found  in  Alabama  during  the  spring  and  summer  and  dis- 
appears with  cold  weather.  The  female  has  nothing  of 
the  beauty  of  plumage  of  the  male.  She  can  hardly  be 
distinguished  from  a  sparrow  as  to  color/' 

Recording  the  capture  of  another  specimen,  July  6, 
1886,  he  writes  : 

"C.  cyanea  is  not  a  rare  bird  in  this  locality.  The 
mate  doubtless  of  this  very  bird,  for  several  weeks  past, 
perched  every  morning  upon  the  top  of  a  gum  near  my 
door,  has  made  his  song  heard.  It  nests  here." 

April  6,  1887,  the  Doctor  records  hearing  the  song  of 
the  first  arrival  of  the  season.  Oct.  18,  1890,  he  enters  a 
late  record  for  the  species. 

"Abundant.     Breeds."  (1891a). 

No.  146.  Female-ad.     Greensboro.     May  22,  1889.  W.  C.  Avery, 

No.  164.  Male.     Greensboro.     June  8,  1889.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  534.  Female.     Greensboro.     June  26,  1890.     W.   C.  Avery, 

No.  535.  Female-hornot.  Greensboro.  June  26,  1890.  W.  C. 
Avery. 

No.  577.  Male-hornot.  Greensboro.     Aug.  15,  1890.  W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  578.  Male-ad.     Greensboro.     Aug.  15,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery, 

No.   648.  Female.     Greensboro.     Sept.    5,   1890.     W.    C.   Avery. 

No.  678.  Female.     Greensboro.     Sept.  15,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.   831.  Male.     Greensboro.     May  4,   1891.     W.   C.   Avery. 

No.  1058.  Male.     Greensboro.     May  4,  1893.     W.  C.  Avery. 

149.     SPIZA  AMERICANA    (Gmelin). 

DlCKCISSEL. 

"Black-throated  Bunting."     ''Prairie  Lark." 

One  June  6,  1876,  Dr.  Avery  records  his  first  dickcissel, 
an  adult  male  taken  at  Greensboro,  as  No.  9  of  his  old 
series.  He  remarks :  "Stomach  contained  comminuted 
fragments  of  insects,  no  grain  that  I  could  discover. 

"This  little  bird  affects  the  black  lands,  cane  brake  and 
'prairies/  He  is  found  along  the  road-sides,  where  he 
often  builds  his  nest  in  the  thick  foliage  of  the  'haw/  or 
other  low  shrubs  and  trees. 

"Perched  upon  the  top-most  spray  of  tree  or  shrub  by 
the  roadside,  his  cheerful,  but  monotonous  notes  may  be 


AVERY  BIRD   COLLECTION  97 

heard  during  the  spring  and  summer.  He  disappears  on 
the  approach  of  cold  weather." 

July  17,  1876,  the  following  record  was  added  to  the 
"'Oological  Register"  as  the  last  entry  in  that  series: 
"No.  7.  Nest  of  black-throated  bunting — Euspiza  ameri- 
cana.  Clutch  of  four  eggs.  Two  of  the  eggs  fell  from  the 
nest  and  were  broken  in  bringing  it  home.  I  found  this 
nest  in  a  small  hackberry,  a  few  feet  from  the  ground. 
These  birds  build  their  nests  in  shrubs  or  trees,  near  the 
ground." 

"Common  in  the  black  lands  in  the  southern  portion  of 
the  county.  Summer  resident.  Breeds."  (1891a). 

No.  514.     Male.     Greensboro.     May  11,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 
No.  851.     Female.     Greensboro.     May  23,   1891.     W.   C.   Avery. 
No.  852.     Male.     Greensboro.     May  23,  1891.     W.  C.  Avery. 

150.  PIRANGA  ERYTHROMELAS    (Vieillot). 

SCARLET  TANAGER. 

"Rare.  Only  observed  during  the  autumn  migration. 
One  specimen  taken  on  October  16  last.  (1891a). 

The  species  is  a  fairly  common  spring  migrant  in  Ala- 
bama, and  two  years  after  the  publication  of  the  fore- 
going note  the  Doctor  captured  No.  1056  listed  below. 

No.   760.  Male.     Greensboro.     Oct.   16,   1890.     W.   C.   Avery. 

No.  924.  Male.     Greensboro.     Sept.  18,  1891.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  932.  Male.     Greensboro.     Sept.  23,  1891.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  933.  Male.     Greensboro.     Sept.  24,  1891.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  943.  Male.     Greensboro.     Oct.  1,  1891.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No    944.  Female.     Greensboro.     Oct.  2,  1891.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  945.  Male.     Greensboro.     Oct.  2,  1891.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  1056.  Male.     Greensboro.     May  3,  1893.     W.  C.  Avery. 

151.  PIRANGA  RUBRA  RUBRA  (Linnaeus). 

SUMMER  TANAGER. 
"Summer  Redbird" 

Dr.  Avery  did  not  become  acquainted  with  the  home 
life  of  this  common  species  until  he  had  reached  middle 
age— another  bit  of  evidence  that  his  interest  in  the 
birds  was  long  delayed.  But  be  it  said  to  his  credit  that 
when  he  did  undertake  the  study  of  ornithology  he  was 
thorough. 

Under  date  of  June  21,  1875,  the  fortieth  anniversary 
of  his  birth,  the  following  paragraph  is  entered  in  French 

4— AB 


98        GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF  ALABAMA 

in  his  journal:  "I  found  to-day  in  an  oak  the  nest  of  a 
tanager.  It  is  the  first  that  I  have  ever  seen." 

In  the  first  series  of  numbers,  13  was  an  adult  male 
summer  tanager  shot  near  Greensboro,  June  9,  1876,  and 
later  presented  to  the  Smithsonian  Institution.  Under 
this  entry  is  written:  "Stomach  contained  debris  of  in- 
sects, was  stained  internally  with  the  juice  of  blackber- 
ries, and  contained  some  seeds  of  blackberries. 

"Found  here  in  summer  and  spring.  Disappears  when 
its  food  becomes  scarce. 

"  'Pyranga  rubra'  and  'Pyranga  aestiva'  are  the  same 
bird.  There  is  quite  a  variety  of  plumage  in  the  tan- 
ager; some  (the  males)  being  red  and  green,  others  red 
having  the  wings  and  tail  slightly  shaded  with  black." 
((The  variation  in  the  plumage  of  the  summer  tanager 
Is  one  of  age  and  season  and  occurs  only  in  the  male.  The 
female  is  constantly  orange  olive-green  above,  with  yel- 
lowish orange  underparts.) 

Among  the  old  journal  sheets  are  three  or  four  pages 
of  "Oological  Register,"  the  first  entry  of  which  follows 
in  toto  : 

"No.  1  Nest  of  Pyranga  rubra;  26  May,  1876.  This 
nest  was  found  in  an  oak  tree  on  the  Greensboro  and 
Millwood  road  11/2  miles  southwest  of  Greensboro,  and 
very  near  'Contentment.'  'Clutch'  of  four  eggs. 

"The  nest  was  built  on  an  oak  limb  within  a  few  feet 
of  the  ground,  and  overhanging  the  side  of  the  road. 
In  walking  under  the  limb  I  frightened  the  bird,  and 
suspecting  that  there  must  be  a  nest,  upon  search  I  found 
it  concealed  by  the  dense  foliage ;  and  but  for  her  having 
flown,  the  parent  bird  might  have  kept  the  secret,  hatched 
her  brood  and  departed  undisturbed  with  her  off-spring 
to  her  winter  home. 

"This  bird,  called  also  Tanagra  aestiva,  affects  the  oak 
as  a  building  place.  He  appears  in  our  country  early  in 
the  spring  as  soon  as  his  insect  food  becomes  abundant 
and  disappears  in  the  fall  with  frost.  The  male  may 
often  be  seen  perched  high  upon  a  dead  limb  of  his  oak 
home,  where  he  pours  forth  his  song,  not  a  very  melod- 
ious one.  His  notes  are  rather  feeble,  but  quite  sweet. 


AVERY  BIRD   COLLECTION 


He  reminds  one  of  a  young  lady  who  is  trying  very  hard 
to  make  herself  exceedingly  agreeable  by  singing,  but 
who  has  but  a  mediocre  voice,  and  sings  always  the  same 
song." 

A  specimen  of  summer  tanager  taken  June  25,  1888> 
was  presented  to  Dr.  A.  K.  Fisher  of  Washington,  D.  C~ 
This  note  is  interesting  because  it  indicates  Dr.  Avery's 
correspondence  with  noted  ornithologists. 

"Abundant.       Summer  resident.       Breeds."    (1891a). 

No.  25.  Female.     Greensboro.     May  21,  1887.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  163.  Male.     Greensboro.     June  8,  1889.     W.   C.  Avery. 

No.  517.  Male.     Greensboro.     May  12,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.   526.  Male.     Greensboro.     May  31,   1890.     W.   C.   Avery. 

No.  585.  Female.     Greensboro.     Aug.  18,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  642.  Male.     Greensboro.     Sept.  4,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  656.  Female.     Greensboro.     Sept.  6,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  699.  Female.     Greensboro.     Sept.  23,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  706.  Female.     Greensboro.     Sept.  25,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  830.  Female.     Greensboro.     May  3,  1891.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  904.  Female.     Greensboro.     Aug.  25,  1891.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  909.  Female.     Greensboro.     Aug.  30,  1891.     W.   C.  Avery. 

No.  923.  Male.     Greensboro.     Sept.  17,  1891.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  940.  Male.     Greensboro.     Sept.  26,  1891.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  989.  Male.     Greensboro.     Apr.   14,   1892.     W.   C.   Avery. 

No.  993.  Male-hornot.     Greensboro.  Sept.  9,  1892.  W.  C.  Avery. 

152.     PROGNE   SUBIS   SUBIS    (Linnaeus). 
PURPLE  MARTIN. 

In  a  letter  to  the  Editor  of  the  "American  Field,"  in 
June,  1884,  Dr.  Avery  stated  that  on  March  21st  of  that 
year  he  "Saw  also,  for  the  first  time  this  season,  Progne 
purpurea."  (1884). 

"Common.     Summer  resident.     Breeds."    (1891a). 

No.  1044.  Male.  Greensboro  (Cocke's  Pond).  Apr.  15,  1893. 
W.-C.  Avery. 


153.  PETROCHELIDON  LUNIFRONS  LUNIFRONS   (Say). 
CLIFF  SWALLOW. 

"Observed  only  in  the  spring;  have  not  found  it  nest- 
ing here."  (1891b). 

No.    501.     Male.     Greensboro.     May   6,    1890.     W.    C.   Avery. 
No.  502.     Male.     Greensboro.     May  6,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 


100  GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF  ALABAMA 


154.     HIRUNDO  ERYTHROGASTRA   (Boddaert). 
BARN  SWALLOW. 

"Spring  and  autumn  migrant.     Abundant."    (1891b). 

No.  505.  Female.     Greensboro.     May  7,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.   506.  Male.     Greensboro.     May  7,   1890.     W.   C.   Avery. 

No.  507.  Female.     Greensboro.     May  7,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  509.  Male.     Greensboro.     May  7,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

155.     STELGIDOPTERYX  SERRIPENNIS  (Audubon). 
ROUGH-WINGED  SWALLOW. 

"Observed  in  the  spring.  Not  found  breeding.  Com- 
mon." (1891b). 

Further  field  work  should  certainly  prove  this  species 
to  be  a  common  breeder  in  Hale  County. 

No.  477.  Male.     Greensboro.     Apr.  23,   1890.     W.   C.   Avery. 

No.  478.  Female.     Greensboro.     Apr.  23,   1890.     W.   C.  Avery. 

No.  508.  Female.     Greensboro.     May  7,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  879.  Male.     Anniston.     July  7,  1891.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  880.  Female.     Anniston.     July  7,   1891.     W.   C.  Avery. 

No.  881.  Female-hornot.  Anniston.  July  1,  1891.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  882.  Hornot.     Anniston.     July  7,  1891.     W.  C.  Avery. 

156.     BOMBYCILLA    CEDRORUM    (Vieillot). 

CEDAR  WAX  WING. 
"Cedarbird."     "Seal" 

This  demure  little  grayish-brown  species  bears  the  dis- 
tinction of  furnishing  the  subject  of  the  first  ornithologi- 
cal record  to  be  found  in  Dr.  Avery's  papers.  Under 
date  of  May  23,  1876,  is  found  this  entry  on  a  page  cut 
from  an  old  journal: 

"No.  1.     3  miles  southwest  of  Greensboro; 

"Ampelis  Cedrorum;  male  adult; 

"Was  so  fat  that  I  found  some  difficulty  in  keeping  the 
skin  from  being  soiled  by  the  grease.  His  stomach  con- 
tained a  black  mulberry.  This  bird  is  a  migrant,  pass- 
ing a  short  time  with  us  during  the  spring." 

Here  is  another  original  entry,  dated  April  11,  1890 : 

"About  half  an  hour  before  sunset  I  saw  a  cedarbird 
perched  on  a  liquidambar  tree.  It  being  unusual  to  see 
one  of  these  birds  alone,  I  watched  it  for  some  minutes, 
'till  darkness  put  an  end  to  my  observations.  It  sat  mo- 
tionless for  some  minutes  on  its  perch  and  then  sallied 
forth  in  pursuit  of  a  passing  insect ;  behaving  like  a  fly- 


AVERY  BIRD   COLLECTION 


catcher,  except  that  it  changed  its  perch  at  each  flight 
taken. 

"It  finally  disappeared  in  a  thicket  and  I  looked  in  vain 
to  find  its  roosting  place. 

"From  the  shape  of  the  bill  of  the  cedarbird  (Ampelis 
cedrorum)  it  might  have  been  deemed  a  flycatcher,  as 
it  really  is  if  the  catching  of  insects  can  make  it  such." 

"Winter  resident.     Common."  (1891b). 

No.  436.  Female.  Greensboro.  April  1,  1890*.  W.  C.  Avery. 
No.  437.  Female.  Greensboro.  April  1,  1890.  W.  C.  Avery. 
No.  438.  Male.  Greensboro.  April  1,  1890.  W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  439.  Male.     Greensboro.     April    1,    1890.     W.    C.    Avery. 
No.   780.     Male-juv.     Greensboro.     Oct.  22,   1890. 

No Odd  specimen.     No  data. 

157.     LANIUS    LUDOVICIANUS   LUDOVICIANUS    (Linnseus). 

LOGGERHEAD   SHRIKE. 

"Butcher-bird." 

The  first  note  of  interest  regarding  this  species  is  taken 
in  full  from  the  Doctor's  "Oological  Register:" 

"No.  1.     Name :  Lanius  ludovicianus. 

"Locality :  Near  Greensboro,  Alabama. 

"Date :  25th  April,  1887. 

"Collector:  Wm.  C.  Avery,  M.  D. 

"Set  6.     Identity :  Shot  parent.*  Incubation  advanced. 

"Nest :  In  a  pine  tree  near  the  end  of  a  limb  and  about 
8  ft.  from  the  ground. 

"Description  of  nest.  Dimensions  of  nest:  External 
diameter  7  inches  by  7  inches ;  internal  4  inches  by  3*4 
inches ;  depth  two  and  a  half  inches.  The  nest  is  a  large 
structure  for  so  small  a  bird ;  the  foundation  is  composed 
of  sticks,  some  of  which  are  more  than  a  foot  long ;  most 
of  these  sticks  are  from  thorn  trees — osage  orange,  plum 
and  honey  locust;  this  frame  of  coarse  sticks  supports  a 
quantity  of  stalks  of  grass  and  bits  of  cotton ;  the  nest  is 
lined  with  fine  bits  of  grass,  cotton  and  feathers. 

"Dimensions  of  eggs :  No.  1  .95  by  .75.  Dull  white ; 
wreathed  with  confluent  blotches  about  the  larger  end; 
color  of  spots  and  blotches  brownish-black;  specked  with 
the  same  color  and  having  some  small  spots  on  the  less 
end  and  on  the  sides.  No.  2  .96  by  .76.  Blotched  with 
wreath  of  blackish-brown  about  larger  end,  blotches 


102  GEOLOGICAL  PURVEY  OF  ALABAMA 


spreading  more  about  sides  and  extending  lower  than  in 
No.  1.  Some  indistinct  blotching,  mingled  with  well  de- 
fined spots  and  specks,  reaching  to  less  end;  the  latter 
being  marked  with  faint  specks.  No.  3  .92  by  .75.  Cov- 
ered with  dark  confluent  blackish-brown  blotches  about 
larger  end,  the  whole  end  being  blotched;  specked  and 
spotted  on  sides  with  same  color;  small  specks  on  less 
end.  No.  4.  .96  by  .74.  Blotched  about  larger  end; 
spotted  and  specked  on  sides,  the  markings  growing  few- 
er and  smaller  at  the  less  end.  No.  5  .96  by  .74.  Thick- 
ly blotched  at  larger  end,  blotches,  spots  and  specks 
sparsely  scattered  over  sides  and  diminishing  at  less  end 
to  small  specks.  No.  6,  .92  by  .76.  Wreathed  with 
blotches  confluent  around  larger  end ;  some  few  spots  to- 
wards less  end,  the  latter  specked." 

"Common.     Resident.     Breeds."  (1891b). 

The  loggerhead  shrike  was  seen  frequently  by  the  Doc- 
tor during  his  stay  in  Baldwin  County,  Sept.  16  to  Oct. 
2,  1892. 

No.  239.  Male.     Greensboro.     Oct.  9,  1889.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  544.  Male-hornot.  Greensboro.  July  17,  1890.  W.  C. 
Avery. 

No.  766.  Male.     Greensboro.     Oct.  18,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  767.  Male.     Greensboro.     Oct.  18,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.   915.  Female.     Greensboro.     Sept.   8,    1891.     W.   C.   Avery. 

No.  1002.  Male.     Baldwin  Co.     Oct.  2,  1892.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  1034.  Female.     Greensboro.     Mar.  31,  1893.     W.  C.  Avery. 

158.     VIREOSYLVA  OLIVACEA    (Linnseus). 
RED-EYED  VIREO. 

Dr.  Avery's  earlier  bird  notes  are  very  interesting  in- 
asmuch as  they  throw  considerable  light  upon  his  pro- 
gress in  ornithology.  No.  2  of  his  old  series  was  a 
specimen  of  this  common  bird,  but  after  carefully  re- 
cording the  sex,  measurements,  color  of  eyes,  mandibles 
and  tarsi,  as  was  his  custom,  he  writes,  under  date  of 
May  24,  1876 : 

"I  am  little  acquainted  with  this  bird.  He  moves  in- 
cessantly about  among  the  dense  foliage  of  forest  trees 
where  he  seems  to  spend  his  time  entirely.  He  is  a  sum- 
mer resident  and  must  build  here,  and  rear  his  young. 
The  testicles  were  much  developed;  being  as  large  as 


AVERY  BIRD   COLLECTION  103 

garden  peas,  while  those  of  No.  1,  Ampelis  Cedrorum, 
were  very  small;  showing  that  there  had  been  no  recent 
sexual  excitement;  the  latter  does  not  breed  in  this  lati- 
tude ;  at  least  I  have  never  seen  his  nest  nor  his  young." 

Recording  another  specimen,  No.  18  (old  series),  under 
date  of  June  12,  1876,  he  writes : 

"Stomach  contained  debris  of  insects  and  seeds  of  ber- 
ries. 

"The  red-eyed  greenlet,  though  seldom  seen,  is  not  un- 
common. He  warbles  constantly  among  the  dense  foli- 
age of  the  trees  which  are  his  home.  I  know  not  when 
he  approaches  the  ground  for  I  have  never  seen  him 
there." 

Under  the  next  entry,  No.  19,  this  note  is  found : 

"This  is  the  second  bird  of  this  species  shot  by  me  to- 
day. Though  I  have  heard  the  bird  and  know  him  when 
I  see  him,  I  have  not  yet  learned  to  recognize  him  by  his 
song.  This  bird  has  12  rectrices." 

June  17,  1876,  an  adult  female  was  taken  at  Greens- 
boro, and  the  following  note  entered  under  the  record  : 

"I  secured  the  nest  of  this  bird.  It  contained  three 
white  eggs,  with  dark  brown  specks  at  the  larger  end. 
The  eggs  are  shaped  very  much  like  those  of  the  part- 
ridge, being  'top-shaped/  shaped  like  a  top." 

Referring  to  this  nest  in  his  "Oological  Register,"  Dr. 
Avery  writes: 

"It  is  a  pensile  nest,  and  was  suspended  to  the  lowest 
branch  of  an  oak,  so  near  the  ground  that  I  could  not 
have  walked  under  it  without  striking  my  head.  The 
eggs  are  shaped  very  much  like  those  of  the  partridge 
'perdin  virginiana'  (Aud). 

"It  is  probable  that  the  parent  might  have  laid  an  egg 
or  two  more,  as  the  eggs  did  not  appear  to  have  been  set 
upon.  The  old  bird  may  have  been  on  the  nest  for  the 
purpose  of  laying.  The  germ  of  the  egg  seemed  to  be 
unchanged,  there  being  no  blood-vessels  or  no  embryo 
formed." 

The  same  day  another  specimen  was  recorded  with 
this  note: 

"Stomach  contained  insects.  This  bird  could  not  be 
distinguished  from  the  female  by  the  plumage." 


104       GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF  ALABAMA 

On  June  22,  1888,  the  Doctor  took  a  set  of  three  fresh 
eggs  near  Greensboro.  Nest  woven  of  the  inner  bark 
of  cedar,  lined  with  pine  leaves,  a  few  grass  stems,  and 
stems  of  moss,  and  bound  to  the  forks  of  a  horizontal 
branch,  about  ten  feet  from  the  ground,  with  spider  webs 
and  dried  "moss"  stems.  Dimensions:  Outside  circum- 
ference of  rim,  8  in. ;  outside  depth,  2y%  in ;  inside  depth, 
2  in.  Measurements  of  eggs:  .72  by  .56,  .89  by  .59,  .78 
by  .58. 

"Abundant.     Summer  resident.     Breeds."  (1891b). 

The  species  was  seen  often  during  the  Doctor's  visit  in 
Baldwin  County,  Sept.  16  to  Oct.  2,  1892. 

No.  473.  Female.     Greensboro.     April  25,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.   504.  Male.     Greensboro.     May   6,    1890.     W.   C.   Avery. 

No.  561.  Male.     Greensboro.     Aug.  11,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  579.  Male.     Greensboro.     Aug.   15,   1890.     W.   C.   Avery. 

No.  594.  Female.     Greensboro.     Aug.  21,  1890.     W.   C.  Avery. 

No.  622.  Male     Greensboro.     Aug.  29,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  649.  Female.     Greensboro.     Sept.  5,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  768.  Male.     Greensboro.     Oct.  18,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

159.     LANIVIREO  FLAVIFRONS  (Vieillot). 
YELLOW-THROATED  VIREO. 

The  first  recorded  specimen  of  this  vireo  was  taken 
'at  Greensboro,  June  17,  1876.  The  stomach  contained 
"a  worm  and  debris  of  beetles." 

"Not  common.  Has  not  been  observed  during  the 
summer  by  me,  though  Mr.  Henry  Young  has  found  it 
breeding  near  Greensboro.  Three  specimens  were  taken 
by  me  last  fall."  (1891b). 

When  the  Doctor  published  the  foregoing,  he  must 
have  forgotten  his  note  of  June  3,  1888,  which  follows : 

"Saw  yellow-throated  vireo  (Vireo  flavifrons).  These 
birds  were  in  a  gum  thicket  in  an  old  field.  I  examined 
one  carefully  with  a  field  glass  and  saw  distinctly  the 
yellow  loral  stripe  and  circumorbital  ring  of  yellow,  also 
the  yellow  extending  over  chin,  throat  and  breast ;  and  the 
white  wing  bars  on  median  and  greater  coverts." 

No.     570.  Male.     Greensboro.     Aug.  14,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.   661.  Male.     Greensboro.     Sept.  9,   1890.     W.  C.    Avery. 

No.  906.  Female.     Greensboro.     Aug.  27,  1891.     W.   C.  Avery. 

No.  1046.  Male.     Greensboro.     Apr.  20,  1893.     W.  C.  Avery. 


AVERY  BIRD  COLLECTION  105 


160.     LANIVIREO  SOLITARIUS  ALTICOLA  (Brewster). 
MOUNTAIN  VIREO. 

"One  example  was  secured  during  the  migration  this 
fall,  the  first  and  only  one  observed  by  me."  (1891b). 

No.  783.     Female.     Greensboro.     Oct.   23,    1890.     W.    C.    Avery, 

161.     VIREO  GRISEUS  GRISEUS    (Boddaert). 
WHITE-EYED  VIREO. 

The  first  record  of  this  species  was  No.  12  of  Dr.  Av- 
ery's  old  series,  an  adult  male  taken  at  Greensboro,  June 
8,  1876.  The  stomach  contained  "debris  of  insects  and 
matter  which  resembled  vegetable  matter."  Four  days 
later  he  recorded  another  male,  and  wrote:  "I  have  not 
yet  learned  to  distinguish  this  bird  from  the  preceding 
(Vireosylva  olivacea)  by  his  notes.  He  rarely  leaves 
the  lofty  tops  of  the  forest  trees.  He  is  small  but  he 
does  not  'roost  low'." 

This  note  is  a  palpable  error  and  is  included  merely  to 
show  that  the  Doctor  was  just  beginning  the  study  of 
birds  in  1876. 

The  following  is  found  under  date  of  June  17,  1876 : 

"This  is  a  noisy  little  bird,  and  although  smaller  than 
the  red-eye,  his  song  is  much  louder.  It  is  very  difficult 
to  find  the  red-eye  on  account  of  the  feebleness  of  its 
note.  Concealed  among  the  dense  foliage  it  sings  unseen 
for  hours.  I  yesterday  heard  for  the  first  time,  to  know 
it,  the  song  of  Vireo  noveboracensis,  whitQ-eyed  vireo." 

The  following  description  of  No.  31  (old  series)  taken 
next  day  indicates  that  the  Doctor  had  been  studying 
liis  "Coues": 

"Upper  mandible  blackish ;  tip  of  lower  mandible  white, 
bordered  posteriorly  Ipy  a  dark,  sagittiform  portion 
pointing  anteriorly  in  gonys,  and  extending  outwards  and 
backwards  to  mandibular  tomium,  sides  of  under  man- 
dible extending  back  from  gonys  proper  leaden  blue." 

"Abundant.  Summer  resident.  Breeds."  (1891b). 

No.  195.  Male.     Greensboro.     Sept.  7,  1889.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  551.  Male.     Greensboro.     July  22,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  607.  Female.     Greensboro.     Aug.  24,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  608.  Male.     Greensboro.     Aug.  24,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.   633.  Female.     Greensboro.     Sept.  2,   1890.     W.   C.   Avery. 


106       GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF  ALABAMA 


No.  643.     Male.     Greensboro.     Sept.  4,  1890.     W.   C.  Avery. 

No.  735.     Male.     Greensboro.     Oct.  6,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.   769.     Female.     Greensboro.     Oct.    18,   1890.     W.    C.   Avery. 

162.     MNIOTILTA  VARIA   (Linnaeus). 
BLACK  AND  WHITE  WARBLER. 

"Not  common  as  a  summer  resident.  Abundant  in 
the  autumn  migration."  (1891b). 

No.  545.  Male-hornot.  Greensboro.  July  21,  1890.  W.  C. 
Avery. 

No.  593.  Female.     Greensboro.     Aug.  21,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  1070.  Female.     Greensboro.     Sept.  21,  1893.     W.  C.  Avery. 

163.     PROTONOTARIA   CITREA    (Boddaert). 
PROTHONOTARY  WARBLER. 

The  following  note  is  Dr.  Avery's  first  record  of  this 
species : 

"The  day  (7th  May,  1887)  was  quite  cool  in  the  morn- 
ing, but  the  thermometer  rose  towards  evening.  I  was 
standing  near  the  pond  fed  by  the  large  Cypress  Slough 
well  when  I  heard  the  song  of  a  bird  which  I  at  first 
believed  to  be  that  of  the  indigo-bird.  After  searching 
for  sometime  for  the  author  of  the  pleasing  notes  that 
kept  resounding  through  the  woods,  I  saw  a  prothonotary 
fly  into  a  tree  near  the  edge  of  the  pond.  It  was  not 
long  before  he  began  to  sing  and  by  creeping  up  I  could 
see  his  bill  vibrate  as  the  notes  welled  from  his  throat. 
I  watched  him  for  sometime  and  to  make  assurance  surer 
still  I  shot  No.  15,  to  identify  him  beyond  the  question 
of  a  doubt." 

The  stomach  of  this  specimen,  taken  near  Greensboro, 
contained  insects,  as  did  that  of  another  taken  May  21, 
1887,  near  the  same  place. 

"Common.     Summer  resident.  Breeds."  (1891b). 

No.  15   (?).     Male.     Greensboro.     April  5,  1889.     W.  C.  Avery. 
No.  1060.     Female.     Greensboro.     Aug.  25,  1893.     W.  C.  Avery. 

164.     HELINAIA  SWAINSONI   (Audubon). 
SWAINSON'S  WARBLER. 

"On  the  6th  of  September,  while  collecting  about  four 
miles  southwest  of  Greensboro,  Alabama,  I  took  a  speci- 
men of  Swainson's  warbler.  As  far  as  I  know,  this  is 


/       AVERY  BIRD   COLLECTION  107 

the  first  recorded  instance  of  the  capture  of  this  warbler 
in  Alabama."  (1890b). 

"'On  September  6,  last,  I  took  the  first  specimen  of  this 
warbler,  and  the  only  one  that  I  ever  saw.  In  April  of 
1878  three  specimens  of  this  rare  warbler  were  met 
with  by  Mr.  N.  C.  Brown,  at  Coosada,  Elmore  county, 
this  State,  near  the  junction  of  the  Coosa  and  Tallapoosa 
rivers.  He  secured  two  of  these  warblers.  The  one 
captured  by  me  on  September  6,  last,  is  then  the  third 
specimen  taken  in  this  State,  and  the  fourth  observed. 
It  was  doubless  migrating,  as  the  locality  where  it  was 
shot  could  hardly  have  been  the  summer  habitat  of  Swain- 
son's  warbler.  About  eleven  o'clock  on  that  day,  as  I 
was  walking  along  the  edge  of  a  stream  of  water  flowing 
from  an  artesian  well,  and  in  a  grove  of  hardwood  trees, 
a  number  of  birds  drinking  and  bathing  in  this  stream 
flew  up  from  the  water.  Among  them  I  observed  a 
curious  looking  little  bird  that  seemed  to  watch  me  in- 
tently from  the  crotch  of  a  sapling  where  he  was  seated 
motionless  and  silent.  Without  a  moment's  hesitation  I 
shot  the  bird,  which  proved  to  be  Swainson's  warbler." 
(1891b). 

No.  652.     Female-juv.     Greensboro.  Sept.  6,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

165.  HELMITHEROS  VERMIVORUS(  Gmelin). 

WORM-EATING  WARBLER. 

"Observed  during  the  autumn  migrations  only.  The 
first  was  observed  last  year  on  August  9,  the  last  on  Sep- 
tember 19.  It  cannot  be  called  a  common  bird,  as  during 
the  period  between  these  two  dates,  though  I  made  almost 
daily  observations,  I  never  met,  on  one  day,  with  more 
than  three  specimens  of  this  warbler."  (1891b). 

No.  193.  Male.     Greensboro.     Sept.  5,  1889.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  213.  Male.     Greensboro.     Sept.  13,  1889.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  600.  Male.     Greensboro.     Aug.  23,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  609.  Female.     Greensboro.     Aug.  25,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  610.  Male.     Greensboro.     Aug.  25,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

166.  VERMIVORA  CHRYSOPTERA  (Linnaeus). 

GOLDEN-WINGED  WABRLER. 

"Observed,  like  the  preceding  species,  only  during  the 
autumn.  First  seen  this  year  on  August  11,  last  on 
October  4.  Not  common."  (1891b). 


108       GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF  ALABAMA 

No.  203.  Male.     Greensboro.     Sept.  11,  1889.  W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  204.  Male.     Greensboro.     Sept.  11,  1889.  W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  205.  Male.     Greensboro.     Sept.  11,  1889.  W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  562.  Male.     Greensboro.     Aug.  11,  1890.  W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  729.  Female.     Greensboro.     Oct.  4,  1890.  W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  898.  Male.     Greensboro.     Aug.  21,  1891.  W.  C.  Avery. 

167.     VERMIVORA  PEREGRINA  (Wilson). 
TENNESSEE  WARBLER. 

"Only  one  specimen,  and  that  my  first,  has  been  taken 
near  Millwood  in  the  Warrior  River  bottom,  on  October 
4  last/'  (1891b). 

No.  728.     Female.     Greensboro.     Oct.  4,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 
No.  1092.     Female.     Greensboro.     Oct.  18,  1893.     W.  C.  Avery. 

168.     COMPSOTHLYPIS  AMERICANA  AMERICANA 

(Linnaeus) . 
PARULA  WARBLER. 

"Common  during  spring  and  autumn  migrations.  A 
few  remain  all  the  summer  and  breed  perhaps,  though  I 
have  no  other  evidence  of  this  than  that  the  Parula 
warbler  is  a  summer  resident  of  Hale  County."  (1891b). 

A  couple  of  years  after  the  publication  of  the  fore- 
going the  Doctor  secured  all  the  evidence  that  he  wanted, 
as  testified  by  the  following  extended  notes  taken  from 
his  journal  for  1893: 

"April  9th.  Today  while  making  observations  on  the 
nest  of  the  yellow-throated  warbler  found  on  the  4th,  a 
little  bird  was  seen  gathering  material  from  a  stump 
near  the  water-oak,  the  nesting  site  of  D.  dominica  No. 
2. 

"The  field  glass  revealed  a  female  parula  warbler. 
She  flew  about  seventy  yards  and  perched  for  a  moment 
in  a  black  gum;  a  second  flight  took  her  to  the  top  of  a 
sweet  gum ;  she  descended  immediately  to  a  pendent 
bunch  of  Tillandsia,  disappeared  in  the  moss,  made  two 
or  three  flights  from  the  tree,  always  returning  to  the 
same  place  on  the  tree  and  entering  the  same  bunch  of 
moss.  There  could  be  no  doubt  as  to  what  she  was  doing, 
and  I  had  my  first  ocular  demonstration  of  the  fact  that 
the  parula  warbler  breeds  in  Hale  County,  Alabama, 
though  its  occurrence  here  in  mid-summer  had  seemed 
to  me  sufficient  evidence  that  it  nests  in  this  county. 


AVERY  BIRD   COLLECTION  109 


"The  busy  little  architect  was  observed  sometime  at  her 
occupation.  She  did  not  always  fly  in  the  same  direction 
in  search  of  material,  nor  did  she  always  light  directly 
on  the  bunch  of  moss;  she  frequently  lighted  on  the  top 
of  the  sweet  gum  and  descended  to  her  nest.  This  nest 
is  suspended  in  the  streaming  moss,  at  least  two  feet  un- 
der the  limb.  The  moss  is  woven  together,  and  the  nest 
contains  some  spider  web,  as  Asbury,  who  climbed  to  it, 
has  informed  me.  Much  pleasure  is  anticipated  in  tak- 
ing a  full  set  of  this  bird's  eggs,  hitherto  unknown  to 
me. 

"This  little  warbler  returns  from  his  winter  home  to- 
wards the  latter  part  of  March  and  the  first  of  April.  A. 
specimen  was  taken  March  26,  1892 ;  the  label  contains 
this  observation :  'Male  in  breeding  plumages ;  testes 
much  enlarged/  This  is  my  earliest  record  of  the  arrival 
of  Compsothlypis  americana;  my  latest  is  September 
19th,  though  the  latter  date  is  probably  not  that  of  the 
latest  occurrence  of  this  bird  in  Hale  County.  Some  in- 
dividuals remain  with  us  till  the  first  of  October. 

"April  10.  Another  parula  was  observed  today  gath- 
ering material  from  a  stump  on  the  edge  of  a  field.  For- 
tunately, though  she  flew  at  least  a  hundred  and  fifty 
yards  into  the  woods,  with  the  assistance  of  Asbury  her 
nest  was  discovered.  When  she  had  collected  from  the 
stump  what  she  needed  and  had  begun  her  flight  to- 
wards her  nest,  I  announced  the  fact  to  Asbury  who  was 
stationed  at  least  a  hundred  yards  within  the  woods  on 
the  edge  of  an  opening  across  which  she  had  to  fly.  So 
rapid  was  her  flight  and  so  thick  the  woods  when  she 
passed  beyond  the  opening  that  her  destination  could  not 
be  exactly  determined.  A  certain  gum  tree  covered  with 
gray  moss  appeared  to  be  the  most  likely  place  to  find 
her,  but  though  we  watched  some  time  in  the  morning 
our  little  warbler  escaped  our  observation.  In  the  after- 
noon, however,  about  four  o'clock,  we  returned  and 
found  that  she  was  building  in  the  gum  tree.  Her  nest 
could  be  seen  through  the  Tillandsia  just  under  a  limb 
about  fifteen  feet  from  the  ground. 

"Another  female  parula  which  seemed  to  be  building 
was  seen  today  but  she  could  not  be  traced  to  her  nest. 


110       GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF  ALABAMA 

"April  12.  Parula  still  building  in  West  Jones'  woods 
in  the  gum  tree. 

"April  23.  The  parula  warbler's  nest  discovered  on 
the  10th  was  examined  this  morning  and  found  to  con- 
tain four  eggs.  On  being  frightened  from  the  nest  she 
seemed  much  distressed,  flying  within  a  lew  feet  of  the 
tree  and  chirping  loudly  for  so  small  a  bird.  She  was 
examined  with  a  powerful  field  glass,  making  identifica- 
tion positive.  This  parula  was  seen  building  her  nest 
•on  the  12th,  two  days  after  it  was  found;  allowing  two 
more  days  for  its  completion,  I  conclude  that  she  has  laid 
her  set  of  four  eggs  in  nine  or  ten  days. 

"April  24th.  The  parula  warbler's  nest  discovered  to 
be  building  on  the  10th  was  taken  today  and  contained 
four  slightly  incubated  eggs. 

"Nest  in  a  sweet  gum,  20  ft.  from  the  ground,  and  on 
:a  horizontal  limb  four  feet  from  the  body  of  the  tree. 

"The  nest  had  a  hole  or  entrance  into  the  bunch  of 
moss  just  above  its  rim;  it  is  suspended  in  the  moss 
without  other  support  than  the  moss  itself. 

"May  10th.  This  nest  of  the  parula  was  in  an  elm 
tree,  forty-five  feet  from  the  ground  and  fifteen  feet 
from  the  body  of  the  tree.  It  was  found  by  Asbury  on 
the  28th  of  April.  He  saw  the  female  carrying  material 
to  build  her  nest.  It  was  taken  just  12  days  after  the 
hird  was  seen  building.  This  bird  is  probably  the  same 
parula  that  was  building  first  on  April  10th,  and  whose 
nest  was  taken  on  the  23rd,  just  thirteen  days  from  the 
time  she  was  first  seen  building  her  nest. 

"Five  days  then  elapsed  from  the  taking  of  her  nest 
till  the  28th,  when  she  was  again  found  jbuilding,  and 
from  the  28th  of  April  to  the  10th  of  May,  when  the 
second  nest  was  taken,  there  had  passed  just  twelve  days 
or  not  two  weeks.  Seventeen  days,  or  not  much  over  two 
weeks,  transpired  between  the  taking  of  these  two  nests 
of  the  parula,  built  I  believe  by  the  same  bird.  From 
the  time  the  first  nest  was  first  seen  building  'till  the 
taking  the  second  nest,  there  passed  just  thirty  days 
or  one  month.  Then  this  bird  built  two  nests  and  laid 
two  sets  of  eggs  in  thirty  days  or  one  month's  time.  In 


AVERY  BIRD  COLLECTION  111 

fact  in  somewhat  less  than  a  month,  for  incubation  had 
begun  when  the  second  set  was  collected/' 

No.  209.  Female.     Greensboro.     Sept.  11,  1889.     W.  ,C.  Avery. 

No.  569.  Female.     Greensboro.     Aug.  12,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  574.  Sex  (?).     Greensboro.     Aug.  14,  1890.     C.  S.  Brimley. 

No.  665.  Male.     Greensboro.     Sept.  9,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  690.  Male.     Greensboro.     Sept.  19,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  850.  Female.     Greensboro.     May  23,  1891.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  910.  Male.     Greensboro.     Sept.  3,  1891.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  988.  Male.     Greensboro.     Mar.  26,  1892.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No Female.     No  data. 

169.     DENDROICA  ^ESTIVA  .ESTIVA  (Gmelin). 
YELLOW  WARBLER. 

"Spring  and  autumn  migrant.  Not  common."  (1891c). 

No.  30   (?).     Female.  Greensboro.  Aug.  10,  1889.  W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  449.     Male.     Greensboro.     Apr.  12,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  471.     Male.     Greensboro.     Apr.  21,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  558.     Female.     Greensboro.     Aug.  11,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

170.  DENDROICA  CORONATA  (Linnaeus). 

MYRTLE  WARBLER. 
"Yellow-rumped  Warbler." 

Recording  his  first  specimen  of  this  species,  taken 
Jan.  14,  1878,  at  Greensboro,  the  Doctor  writes :  "Stom- 
ach contained  debris  of  cedar  berries.  Abundant  here  in 
the  winter  and  found  frequently  in  company  with  blue- 
birds." 

"Common.     Winter  resident."   (1891c). 

No.  376.  Female.     Greensboro.     Feb.  21,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  397.  Male.     Greensboro.     Mar.  5,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  413.  Female.     Greensboro.     Mar.  13,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  427.  Female.     Greensboro.     Mar.  15,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  434.  Male.     Greensboro.     Mar.  26,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  435.  Male.     Greensboro.     Mar.  26,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.   773.  Female.     Greensboro.     Oct.  20,   1890.     W.   C.   Avery. 

No.  776.  Female.     Greensboro.     Oct.  21,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No   781.  Female.     Greensboro.     Oct.  22,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  785.  Female.     Greensboro.     Oct.  23,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  786.  Female.     Greensboro.     Oct.  23,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

171.  DENDROICA  MAGNOLIA   (Wilson). 

MAGNOLIA  WARBLER. 

"Has  not  been  observed  in  the  spring.  First  seen 
this  fall  on  the  9th  of  September,  last  observed  on  the 
19th  of  October."  (1891c). 


112       GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF  ALABAMA 


No.  698.     Female.     Greensboro.     Sept.  23,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 
No.  933   (?).     Female.     Greensboro.     Oct.  2,  1890.  W.  C.  Avery. 
No.  1073.     Male.     Greensboro.     Sept.  27,  1893.     W.  C.  Avery. 
No.  1079.     Male.     Greensboro.     Oct.  8,  1893.     W.  C.  Avery. 
No.    1081    (?).     Female.     Greensboro.     Sept.    17,    1893.     W.    C. 
Avery. 

No Male.     No  data. 

172.     DENDROICA    CERULEA    (Wilson). 
CERULEAN  WARBLER. 

"Rare.  My  first  acquaintance  with  this  warbler  was 
on  May  10,  1887,  when  I  took  a  pair  in  the  Warrior  River 
bottom,  twelve  miles  southwest  of  Greensboro.  These 
were  the  only  specimens  met  with,  'till  this  fall,  when  C. 
S.  Brimley  took  three  two  miles  west  of  Greensboro, 
some  time  between  August  9  and  17.  I  do  not  recall 
the  exact  date.  One  of  these  specimens  was  an  adult 
male,  and  the  others  were  one  male  and  one  female,  both 
young  and  in  fall  plumage."  (1891c). 

A  male  taken  two  miles  west  of  Greensboro,  March  26, 
1890,  was  recorded  as  No.  431  in  the  Doctor's  catalogue, 
but  unfortunately  it  is  no  longer  in  the  collection. 

No.  16.     Male-adult.     Greensboro.     May  10,  1887.     W.  C.  Avery. 
No.  17.     Female-adult.  Greensboro.  May  10,  1887.     W.  C.  Avery. 

173.     DENDROICA   PENSLYVANICA    (Linnseus). 
CHESTNUT-SIDED  WARBLER. 

"Not  common.  A  spring  and  autumn  migrant.  First 
observed,  this  year,  during  the  fall  migration,  on  August 
29.  October  14  last."  (1891c). 

No.  496.     Female.     Greensboro.     May  4,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 
No.  619.     Female.     Greensboro.     Aug.  29,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 
No.  715.     Female.     Greensboro.     Sept.  30,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 
No.   730.     Male.     Greensboro.     Oct.   4,   1890.     W.   C.    Avery. 
No.  903.     Male.     Greensboro.     Aug.  25,   1891.     W.   C.  Avery. 
No.  1077.     Female.     Greensboro.     Oct.  4,  1893.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No Female.     No  data. 

No No  data. 

174.     DENDROICA  CASTANEA   (Wilson). 
BAY-BREASTED  WARBLER. 

The  Doctor  took  a  single  individual  of  this,  one  of 
the  rarer  warblers  in  Alabama,  but  his  note  books  contain 
only  the  bare  catalogue  entry  of  the  specimen. 

No.  1055.     Female.     Greensboro.     May  3,  1893.     W.  C.  Avery. 


AVERY  BIRD   COLLECTION 


175.     DENDROICA  STRIATA   (J.  R.  Forster). 
BLACK-POLL  WARBLER. 

"One  individual  of  this  species,  the  first  and  only  one, 
was  observed  eight  miles  south  of  Greensboro,  May  5, 
1889."  (1891c). 

The  Doctor  collected  the  following  specimen  subse- 
quently to  the  publication  of  this  note. 

No.  1047.     Male.     Greensboro.     April   23,    1893.     W.    C.   Avery. 

176.     DENDROICA  FUSCA   (Muller). 
BLACKBURNIAN  WARBLER. 

The  following  specimen,  the  only  one  of  the  species 
taken  by  the  Doctor,  elicited  no  further  note  from  him 
than  the  bare  record  in  his  catalogue. 

No.  1054.     Female.     Greensboro.     May  3,  1893.     W.  C.  Avery. 

177.     DENDROICA   DOMINICA    DOMINICA    (Linnjeus). 
YELLOW-THROATED  WARBLER. 

It  is  interesting  to  know  that  specimen  No.  1  of  Dr. 
Avery's  second  series  was  an  adult  male  of  this  species 
taken  July  6,  1886,  near  Greensboro.  He  writes  in  his 
catalogue  : 

"This  bird  is  quite  common  in  this  locality,  though 
captured  by  me  today  for  the  first  time.  I  saw  several 
other  individuals  at  the  time  of  shooting  this  specimen. 
They  were  flitting  about  in  the  pine  tree  with  some  pine 
warblers.  The  yellow-throated  warbler  must  breed  here 
though  I  have  never  found  the  nest." 

On  the  reverse  side  of  label  No.  1  was  written  :  "Con- 
tents of  stomach  small  beetles  and  Lepidoptera." 

A  specimen  taken  June  25,  1888,  was  presented  to  Dr. 
A.  K.  Fisher  of  Washington,  D.  C. 

"Common.  Summer  resident.  Breeds.  A  nest  of  this 
warbler  was  found  by  me  last  spring  on  May  4.  The  nest 
was  in  a  sweet  gum  tree  (Liquidambar  styradflua)  ,  thir- 
ty-five feet  from  the  ground,  and  was  entirely  concealed 
in  a  bunch  of  gray  moss  (Tillandsia  usneoides)  .  The  old 
bird  was  seen  feeding  her  young,  three  in  number.  The 
nest  contained,  besides  the  young  birds,  one  addled  egg." 
(1891c). 


114       GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF  ALABAMA 


Though  the  foregoing  is  the  only  note  on  the  yellow- 
throated  warbler  published  by  the  Doctor,  he  afterwards 
recorded  rather  extended  observations  on  the  nesting  of 
the  species.  These  original  notes  follow: 

"April  2,  1893.  No.  1.  Asbury  McShan  found  a  yel- 
low-throated warbler  building  in  a  sweet  gum  tree  not 
far  from  the  Greensboro  station,  and  just  over  the  path, 
in  a  pendant  bunch  of  gray  moss  about  forty-five  feet 
from  the  ground.  She  could  be  plainly  seen  with  a  field 
glass  through  the  moss  whenever  she  brought  material 
to  the  nest. 

"On  the  third  and  fourth  she  was  occupied  morning 
and  evening  at  her  work.  At  six  o'clock  she  was  work- 
ing on  the  third;  and  later  still  she  could  be  seen  'till 
almost  night  at  her  labor. 

"The  male  was  heard  singing  some  distance  from  the 
scene  of  his  mate's  constant  occupation,  for  many  hours ; 
and  he  seemed  quite  indifferent  to  what  she  was  doing, 
though  perhaps  she  listened  to  his  song  attentively,  and 
found  relief  in  the  sweet  music  of  her  charmer. 

"She  flew  generally  to  the  limb  from  which  the  moss 
hung  and  ran  down  till  she  reached  the  bunch  when  she 
fluttered  like  a  butterfly  before  the  opening  on  the  side 
of  the  moss  and  then  vanished  in  the  waving  epiphyte, 
soon  to  emerge  and  to  dart  so  swiftly  forth  that  the  eye 
could  scarcely  follow  her  as  she  wound  her  aerial  journey 
now  through  the  tree  tops,  and  now  suddenly  descending 
and  skimming  along  the  ground  to  seek  rootlets  or  straw 
or  vegetable  down  for  her  cosy  nest.  I  saw  her  once  tear 
the  lining  from  an  old  nest  of  last  year — a  brown  thrash- 
er's I  believe. 

"What  instinct  compels  these  birds  thus  to  conceal 
their  nests  in  this  pendent  moss?  Is  it  the  inherited 
memory  of  hundreds  of  ancestors  that  have  built  in  vain 
upon  the  bare  branches  till  they  have  sought  concealment 
and  safety  in  their  rocking  cradles  upon  the  tallest  trees  ? 
Has  the  cunning  serpent  or  the  jay  robbed  them  of  their 
treasures  till  the  instinct  of  concealment  is  common  to 
these  denizens  of  the  lofty  forest  trees? 

"April  4,  1893.  No.  2.  Asbury  found  a  nest  of  D. 
dominica  this  afternoon.  It  is  in  a  bunch  of  Tillandsia 


AVERY  BIRD   COLLECTION  115 


•usneoides  ('gray  moss'),  suspended  from  a  bough  of  the 
water  oak  (Quercus  aquatica) .  This  nest  is  about  fifteen 
feet  from  the  ground.  The  male  was  heard  singing 
about  a  hundred  yards  from  the  tree  in  which  his  mate 
had  begun  nidification.  After  some  search  for  his  quiet 
partner,  she  was  found  on  a  sweet  gum  (Liquidambar 
styraciflua) .  She  flew  from  this  into  a  water  oak. 
There  also  was  another  bird.  I  turned  my  field  glass  up- 
on both ;  the  identity  of  the  yellow-throated  warbler  was 
positive.  Asbury  was  enjoined  to  watch  her,  while  the 
other  bird  was  examined  and  found  to  be  V.  flavifrons. 
While  this  bird  was  examined  by  me,  Asbury  whispered 
to  me,  as  he  sank  on  his  knees  to  the  ground,  'Sit  down, 
Doctor/  I  did  so,  and  at  the  same  time  the  yellow- 
throated  warbler  was  seen  flitting  about  a  streamer  of 
gray  moss.  She  lingered  a  few  seconds  around  it,  entered 
it,  emerged  suddenly,  and  flew  away.  She  soon  returned, 
however,  with  a  straw  in  her  mouth.  Again  she  entered 
the  moss,  again  quickly  came  forth,  but  this  time  she  was 
gone  ten  minutes,  or  more  perhaps.  While  we  were 
thinking  of  approaching  the  moss  to  examine  closely  the 
site  of  her  secret,  she  returned  and  disappeared,  with  the 
material  gathered,  by  the  opening  which  she  had  before 
entered.  There  could  be  no  doubt  as  to  what  she  was 
doing.  Another  and  another  time  she  came  and  went, 
and  the  field  glass  revealed  the  outline  of  the  nest  and 
the  movements  of  the  busy  builder  could  be  seen  within, 
as  she  moulded  the  material  and  wove  it  into  her  swinging 
domicile. 

"The  male  was  nowhere  to  be  seen  or  heard  though  not 
long  before  he  was  making  the  woods  ring  with  his  cheer- 
ful notes.  This  song  is  louder  and  far  more  musical  than 
that  of  the  pine  warbler,  in  fact  the  efforts  of  the  latter 
cannot  be  called  music. 

"The  yellow-throated  warbler  is  a  summer  resident  of 
Hale  County.  He  arrives  from  his  winter  home  from 
the  first  to  the  twelfth  of  March.  The  latter  date  was 
that  of  the  first  song  of  this  bird  heard  by  me  this  season. 
It  seems  now — the  4th  of  April — to  be  building,  as  the 
observations  made  by  me  this  spring  lead  me  to  believe. 


116       GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF  ALABAMA 


"It  seems  to  be  from  three  weeks  to  a  month  later  at 
nidification  than  the  pine  warbler,  a  resident. 

"April  10,  1893.  No.  3.  Late  this  afternoon,  as  the 
sun  was  setting,  quite  a  number  of  yellow-throated  war- 
blers were  seen  in  some  pines  near  a  'branch'  on  the 
edge  of  a  field.  I  have  never  before  seen  so  many  indi- 
viduals of  this  species  together.  They  were  watched 
closely  and  one  of  them  was  seen  flying  to  a  bunch  of 
moss  on  a  sweet  gum  tree  (Liquidambar) .  She  soon  dart- 
ed out  from  the  moss,  and  swift  as  an  arrow,  glided  along 
the  ground  into  the  field.  Returning  to  the  same  limb  on 
the  gum  tree,  she  could  be  seen  on  her  almost  completed 
nest,  partially  concealed  by  the  moss  but  much  more  eas- 
ily detected  than  Nos.  1  and  2  of  the  same  species,  already 
recorded.  The  nest  lay  on  the  limb,  the  moss  forming 
a  canopy  above  it,  but  not  hiding  it  from  the  eye  as  the 
bird  turned  herself  around  in  her  cup-shaped  fabric, 
spending  several  minutes  in  giving  the  final  touches  to 
her  work — for  she  seemed  to  be  lining  it. 

"April  18.  This  morning  in  attempting  to  take  the 
nest  of  D.  dominica  about  fifty  feet  from  the  ground, 
recorded  above  as  No.  1,  Asbury  broke  the  eggs.  About 
twelve  days  had  elapsed  from  the  completion  of  the  nest 
when  the  attempt  was  made  to  take  it.  The  broken  shells 
disclosed  small  embryos. 

"The  nest  was  built  on  a  limb  in  the  moss  and  was  al- 
most completely  concealed.  The  outside  material  of  the 
nest  is  strips  of  bark  and  a  light  colored  or  grayish  sub- 
stance resembling  spider  webs.  Inside  of  this  are  fine 
straws  interwoven,  the  whole  lined  with  cow  hair  and  a 
few  horse  hairs,  and  feathers  of  the  robin  (Merula  mi- 
gratoria) . 

"External  width  of  nest  2.70  inches;  internal  width 
1.50  inches;  external  depth  3.00  inches;  internal  depth 
1.50  inches.  The  nest  appears  large  for  the  size  of  the 
bird. 

"No.  2.  The  nest  of  Asbury's  finding  in  the  water  oak 
was  cut  down  today  and  though  it  was  probably  complet- 
ed by  the  9th,  not  an  egg  was  yet  laid.  Supposing  it  was 
completed  on  or  before  the  9th  at  least  ten  or  eleven  days 


AVERY  BIRD   COLLECTION  117 


have  elapsed  since  it  was  finished.  As  a  rule  not  less  than 
eighteen  days  should  be  allowed  from  the  time  the  nest 
is  done  till  it  is  taken. 

"April  18,  1893.  No.  4.  The  nest  in  the  pine  tree 
proved  to  have  a  set  of  five  eggs  slightly  incubated.  It 
was  built  on  a  pine  limb,  and  so  concealed  as  to  be  found 
only  by  seeing  the  old  bird  take  the  nest.  This  was 
twenty-five  feet  from  the  ground  and  seven  and  a  half 
feet  from  the  axis  of  the  tree. 

"External  width  of  nest  2.90  inches;  internal  width 
1.65  inches;  external  depth  3.00  inches;  internal  depth 
1.70  inches.  Material:  strips  of  bark  and  straw  on  the 
outside,  attached  to  the  limb  of  the  pine  by  a  substance 
resembling  spider  web  and  giving  the  nest  a  grayish  ap- 
pearance externally;  inside  of  nest  lined  with  hairs,  ap- 
parently of  the  cow,  and  with  feathers. 

"April  20,  1893.  No.  5.  A  yellow-throated  warbler 
was  discovered  building  her  nest  this  afternoon  in  a  sweet 
gum.  The  nest  is  completely  concealed  in  a  bunch  of 
moss  and  is  at  least  fifty-five  or  sixty  feet  from  the 
ground,  and  on  the  end  of  a  limb.  The  male  and  female 
were  observed  feeding  together;  they  visited  several 
bunches  of  moss ;  at  last  they  both  flew  high  up  to  a  moss 
covered  branch  and  disappeared  in  the  moss;  the  male 
then  left  his  companion,  and  she  was  observed  many  times 
to  dart  to  the  earth  and  return  to  the  bunch  of  moss.  It 
was  evident  after  she  had  many  times  flown  to  and  from 
the  moss  that  she  was  building. 

"April  24,  1893.  No.  3.  No.  three's  nest  (D.  domin- 
ica)  was  taken  this  afternoon.  It  contained  four  slightly 
incubated  eggs.  Nest  was  on  the  horizontal  limb  of  a 
sweet  gum,  26  ft.  from  the  ground  and  9  ft.  from  the 
body  of  the  tree. 

"The  parent  remained  on  the  nest  till  she  was  shaken 
from  it  by  the  jarring  of  a  pole  on  the  limb.  This  nest 
was  found  on  the  evening  of  the  10th ;  it  was  taken  on  the 
24th,  just  fourteen  days  from  the  time  it  was  first  dis- 
covered. The  bird  was  last  seen  building  on  the  12th ; 
she  was  then  lining  the  nest,  as  I  saw  her  carrying  a 
large  feather  in  her  bill. 


118       GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF  ALABAMA 

"April  25,  1893.  No.  5  was  seen  building  to-day,  the 
fifth  day  since  she  was  discovered  carrying  material  for 
a  nest. 

"April  27,  1893.  No.  6  (D.  dominica) .  Another  nest 
of  the  yellow-throated  warbler  was  found  this  morning. 
She  was  seen  entering  a  bunch  of  moss,  and  the  nest  was 
thus  located.  Pellets  of  silk  of  cocoons  and  the  web  or 
tents  of  certain  larvae  were  gathered;  the  bird  returning 
every  five  or  ten  minutes  with  a  wad  of  something  white 
in  her  mouth.  She  was  found  gathering  this  white  sub- 
stance from  under  the  bark  of  pine  trees.  She  pecked 
from  a  small  hole  in  the  side  of  a  pine  as  much  of  this 
white  substance  as  she  could  hold  in  her  bill  at  one  time, 
and  made  a  second  visit  to  the  same  spot  from  which  she 
extracted  as  much  building  material  a  second  time.  '  She 
was  constructing  her  nest  in  the  morning  at  9  o'clock, 
and  on  returning  four  hours  after  I  found  her  still  busily 
employed. 

"No.  7.  At  Millwood  a  nest  of  D.  dominica  was  found 
on  May  6th.  The  nest  was  on  a  limb  ninety  feet  from 
the  ground,  and  three  feet  from  the  axis  of  the  tree. 
Three  pairs  of  yellow-throated  warblers  were  seen,  and  a 
young  one  just  out  of  the  nest. 

"May  8,  1893  Nest  No.  5  was  examined  today  by 
Asbury  and  found  empty,  although  eighteen  days  had 
elapsed  since  the  bird  was  seen  building.  This  was  in  a 
bunch  of  Tillandsia  about  fifty  feet  from  the  ground,  and 
four  feet  from  the  trunk  of  the  tree. 

"May  8,  1893.  No.  6  was  also  examined  by  Asbury 
and  found  to  have  the  old  bird  apparently  sitting.  This 
nest  was  building  on  the  27th;  only  eleven  days  have 
passed  since  D.  dominica  No.  6  was  found. 

"May  10,  1893.  No.  6  was  taken  this  morning;  bird 
seen  building  on  the  27th  of  April;  set  complete.  Bird 
was  allowed  in  this  case  thirteen  days  to  build  nest  and 
lay  her  set  of  eggs.  This  nest  was  concealed  in  bunch  of 
Tillandsia  usneoides,  thirty-five  feet  from  the  ground  and 
eleven  feet  from  trunk  of  tree.  The  nest  was  supported 
not  only  by  the  gray  moss  but  also  by  the  end  of  the  limb 
upon  which  grew  the  moss.  It  was  very  neatly  and  com- 
pactly built. 


:  T     AVERY  BIRD   COLLECTION  119 

"May  14,  1893.  Took  nest  No.  5  this  morning ;  it  con- 
tained bits  of  egg  shells.  The  nest  was  found  building 
on  the  20th  of  April  and  examined  on  the  8th  of  May — 
eighteen  days  from  the  first  day  the  bird  was  seen 
building.  The  eggs  must  have  been  destroyed  by  a  jay 
or  in  some  unaccountable  way,  for  they  could  hardly 
have  hatched  and  the  young  have  left  the  nest  in  less  than 
three  weeks. 

No.  142.     Female.     Greensboro.     May  20,   1889.     W.   C.  Avery. 
No.  430.     Male.     Greensboro.     Mar.  26,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 
No.  870.     Sex  (?).     Anniston.     June  28,  1891.     W.  C.  Avery. 
No.  1059.     Female.     Greensboro:     May  6,  1893.     W.  C.  Avery. 
No.  1062.     Male.     Greensboro.     Sept.  4,  1893.     W.  C.  Avery. 

178.     DENDROICA    VIRENS     (Gmelin). 
BLACK-THROATED  GREEN  WARBLER. 

"Not  common.  Spring  and  autumn  migrant.  Arrives 
later  than  any  warbler,  except  the  myrtle  and  palm  war- 
blers in  the  fall.  First  seen  this  fall,  October  16,  last 
met  with  October  24.  On  October  23,  a  cold  day,  I  ob- 
served, in  the  town  of  Greensboro,  four  of  these  war- 
blers busily  searching  the  leaves  of  a  shade  tree  for 
insects.  They  were  so  gentle  that  one  might  stand  with 
his  face  within  two  or  three  feet  of  them,  as  they  hopped 
about  on  the  lowest  branches  of  the  tree  just  over  the  edge 
of  the  sidewalk."  (1891c). 

No.  497.     Male.     Greensboro.     May  4,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 
No.  498.     (?)      Female.     Greensboro.       May  4,    1890.       W.   C. 
Avery. 

No.  499.     Female.     Greensboro.     May  4,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 
No.  1072.     Sex  (?).     Greensboro.     Sept.  27,  1893.     W.  C.  Avery. 
No.   1078.     Female.     Greensboro.     Oct.   8,   1893.     W.   C.   Avery. 
No.  1083   (?).  Male.     Greensboro.     Oct.  10,  1893.     W.  C.  Avery. 
No.  1084.     Male.     Greensboro.     Oct.  10,  1893.     W.  C.  Avery. 
No.  1085.     Female.     Greensboro.     Oct.  10,  1893.     W.  C.  Avery. 
No.  1093.     Female.     Greensboro.     Oct.  18,  1893.     W.  C.  Avery. 

179.     DENDROICA  VIGORSI    (Audubon). 
PINE  WARBLER. 

"Abundant.     Resident.     Breeds."  (1891c). 

The  first  recorded  capture  of  this  bird  was  on  Jan.  10, 
1878,  when  specimen  No.  39  (old  series)  was  collected 
at  Greensboro.  Mar.  18,  1888,  Dr.  Avery  "found  for 
the  first  time  nest  of  D.  pinus,  on  a  horizontal  limb  of  a 


120       GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF  ALABAMA 


pine  about  fifteen  feet  from  the  ground ;  saw  female  pine 
creeper  fly  into  the  tree  with  material  for  her  nest/' 

April  1,  1888,  a  set  of  three  eggs  was  collected,  near 
Greensboro,  from  a  nest  on  a  horizontal  limb  of  a  pine, 
twenty  feet  from  the  ground. 

April  29,  1891,  the  Doctor  observed  a  pine  warbler 
feeding  its  young. 

The  following  nesting  notes  are  taken  from  the  Doc- 
tor's original  journal: 

"March  24,  1893.  Took  a  nest  of  a  pine  warbler,  on 
the  horizontal  branch  of  a  pine  tree  (pinus  mitis)  at  9 
feet  10  inches  from  the  axis  of  the  tree,  and  13  feet  4i/> 
inches  from  the  ground.  The  bird  was  discovered  build- 
ing her  nest  on  the  9th  of  March.  It  was  completed  about 
the  12th.  The  last  egg  was  laid  on  the  24th.  The  nest 
was  attached  to  and  in  the  fork  of  a  horizontal  branch. 
It  was  built  of  pine  needles  and  strips  of  bark,  and  lined 
with  feathers  and  hair.  This  bird  had  built  her  nest  by 
the  12th ;  she  was  seen  building  it  for  three  or  four  days. 
She  began  nidification  on  the  8th  (or  about  that  time) 
and  the  nest  was  finished  in  about  four  days. 

"To-day,  the  4th  of  April  (1893),  while  making  obser- 
vations on  the  yellow-throated  warbler  whose  nest  was 
found  on  the.  2nd,  and  also  preparing  to  have  Asbury 
climb  a  pine  to  take  a  nest  of  D.  pinus,  both  parents  ap- 
peared on  the  scene ;  one,  the  male  I  believe,  with  a  worm, 
which  he  could  be  seen  distinctly  serving  to  his  nestlings. 
It  seems  to  me  that  this  nest  must  have  been  built  the 
first  week  in  March  for  the  young  to  have  been  hatched 
as  early  as  the  fourth  of  April.  Of  course  operations 
for  taking  the  nest  were  suspended ;  ladder  and  rope  and 
saw  were  carried  home.  This  nest  of  'pinus'  is  thirty 
feet  from  the  ground  and  fifteen  feet  from  the  body  of 
the  tree,  on  a  horizontal  branch.  The  sites  of  the  other 
two  pine  warblers'  nests  found  this  season  are  similar  to 
that  of  the  one  just  described.  They  are,  judging  from 
the  eye,  respectively  fifteen  and  twenty-five  feet  from  the 
ground." 

Pine  warblers  were  recorded  as  common  near  Perdido, 
Sept.  26,  1892. 


AVERY  BIRD   COLLECTION  121 


,      No.   8.     Male.     Greensboro.     Sept.   8,   1886.     W.    C.   Avery. 
No.  293.     Male.     Greensboro.     Dec.  9,  1886.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No. Male  im.     Greensboro.     Nov.  29,  1889.     W.  C    Avery 

No.  329.     Male.     Greensboro.     Dec.   23,   1889.     W.    C.   Avery. 
No.  733.    (?).  Male,     Greensboro.     Mar.  25,  1890.  W.  C.  Avery. 
No.  588.     Male.     Greensboro.     Aug.   19,  1890.     W.   C.  Avery 
No.  784.     Male.     Greensboro.     Oct.  23,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery 
No.  802.     Male.     Greensboro.     Nov.  1,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 
No.  983  (?).     Female.     Greensboro.  Aug.  17,  1890.  W.  C.  Avery. 
No.  787    (?).     Male.     Greensboro.     Oct.  2,  1893.     W.  C.  Avery. 

180.     DENDROICA  PALMARUM  PALMARUM   (Gmelin). 
PALM  WARBLER. 

"Common.  Spring  migrant.  A  few  have  been  ob- 
served in  the  fall  of  previous  years ;  none  seen  this  fall. 
First  met  with  last  year  in  the  spring  migration,  on 
April  6,  last  on  May  6."  (1891c). 

April  23,  1887,  recording  two  specimens  of  this  war- 
bler, Dr.  Avery  writes :  "First  of  the  species  I  have  ever 
collected.  Shot  three  in  Millwood  swamp  on  edge  of 
pond.  The  first  one  shot- — by  a  singular  coincidence- 
fell  within  an  inch  of  a  large  moccasin,  which  might 
have  collected  me  had  I  not  seen  him  sooner.  As  it  was 
I  collected  him  and  the  bird  also." 

No.  448.  Male.     Greensboro.     Apr.   12,   1890.     W.   C.   Avery. 

No.  463.  Male.     Greensboro.     Apr.  18,   1890.     W.   C.   Avery. 

No.  468.  Female.     Greensboro.     Apr.  21,   1890.     W.   C.  Avery. 

No.  469.  Male.     Greensboro.     Apr.  21,   1890.     W.   C.  Avery. 

No.  470.  Female.     Greensboro.     Apr.  21,   1890.     W.   C.  Avery. 

No.  484.  Female.     Greensboro.     Apr.   27,   1890.     W.   C.   Avery. 

No.  485.  Female.     Greensboro.     Apr.  27,   1890.     W.   C.  Avery. 

No.  486.  Female.     Greensboro.     Apr.  28,  1890.     W.   C.  Avery. 

No.  487.  Female.     Greensboro.     Apr.   28,   1890.     W.   C.  Avery. 

No.  493.  Female.     Greensboro.     Apr.  30,   1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  494.  Female.     Greensboro.     Apr.  30,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  495.  Female.     Greensboro.     Apr.  30,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  503.  Female.  Greensboro.  May  6,  1890.  W.  C.  Avery. 
No.  1062.  Male.  Greensboro.  Sept.  15,  1893.  W.  C.  Avery. 
No.  1095.  Female.  Greensboro.  Oct.  25,  1893.  W.  C.  Avery. 

181.     DENDROICA  PALMARUM   HYPOCHRYSEA    (Ridgway). 
YELLOW  PALM  WARBLER. 

"Only  one  specimen  of  this  form  has  come  under  my 
observation,  and  that  occurred  April  21  last;  the  usual 
form  here  is  typical  palmarum,  or  a  form  intermediate 
between  this  one  and  Dendroica  palmarum."  (1891c). 


122       GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF  ALABAMA 

All  three  of  the  specimens  taken  on  April  21,  1890,  are 
referable  to  subspecies  palmarum,  but  it  is  quite  probable 
that  both  forms  occur  during  migrations  in  Hale  County. 


182.     DENDROICA  DISCOLOR    (Vieillot). 
PRAIRIE  WARBLER. 

"Common.     Summer  resident.     Breeds."  (1891c). 

May  1,  1889,  Dr.  Avery  shot  an  incubating  female  to 
properly  identify  a  nest  with  eggs.  A  month  later  he 
writes:  "Found  five  nests  of  the  prairie  warbler  on  the 
1st  of  June ;  all  empty  but  one  which  had  two  eggs  in  it. 
These  nests  were  all  in  young  sweet  gums  and  from 
about  two  or  three  to  six  feet  from  the  ground." 

No.  444.  Male.     Greensboro.     April  6,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  450.  Male.     Greensboro.     April  12,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  464.  Sex   (?).     Greensboro.     Apr.  18,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  598.  Male.     Greensboro.     Aug.  22,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  615.  Female.     Greensboro.     Aug.  25,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  888.  Male.     Greensboro.     Aug.  11,  1891.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  894.  Male.     Greensboro.     Aug.  15,  1891.     W.  C.  Avery. 

183.     SEIURUS   AUROCAPILLUS    (Linnaeus). 
OVEN-BIRD. 

"Met  with  during  autumn  migration.  Not  common." 
(1891c). 

"The  llth  of  October  (1890)  was  the  first  day  that  I 
had  met  with  the  oven-bird  (S.  aurocapillus)  with  the 
exception  of  two  specimens  previously  collected  by  me. 
This  bird  has  the  same  mode  of  locomotion  as  the  tit- 
larks :  walking  instead  of  hopping.  It  was  curious  to  see 
it  progressing  as  it  did — lighting  on  the  ground  and  run- 
ning off  like  a  partridge.  The  oven-birds  were  met  with 
on  the  live  oak  ridge  running  east  to  the  Cypress  Slough." 
(Original  notes). 

No.  43.  No  data. 

No.  338.  No  data. 

No.  589.  Female.     Greensboro.     Aug.  21,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  672.  Female.     Greensboro.     Sept.  16,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  744.  Female.     Greensboro.     Oct.  11,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.   745.  Female.     Greensboro.     Oct.   11,   1890.     W.   C.    Avery. 

No.  746.  Male.     Greensboro.     Oct.  11,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  763.  Male.     Greensboro.     Oct.  18,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  770.  Male.     Greensboro.     Oct.  19,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 


AVERY  BIRD   COLLECTION  123 


184.     SEIURUS  NOVEBORACENSIS  NOVEBORACENSIS 

(Gmelin). 
WATER-THRUSH. 

"Observed  in  autumn  migration.     Rare."  (1891c). 
No.  688.     Male.     Greensboro.     Sept.  19,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

185.     SEIURUS   NOVEBORACENSIS    NOTABILIS    (Ridgway). 
GRINNELL'S  WATER-THRUSH. 

The  two  Hale  County  specimens  listed  below  are  re- 
ferable to  this  form. 

No.  991.     Male.     Greensboro.     Sept.  3,  1892.     W.  C.  Avery. 
No.  1061.     Female.     Greensboro.     Aug.  25,  1893.     W.  C.  Avery. 

186.  SEIURUS  MOTACILLA  (Vieillot). 

LOUISIANA  WATER-THRUSH. 

"Rare.  A  specimen  in  my  collection  was  taken  on 
June  30;  another  captured  in  April  gave  evidence  that 
the  bird  was  breeding.  That  taken  in  June  being  well 
within  the  breeding  season,  cannot  be  considered  a  mi- 
grant, while  the  functional  activity  of  the  ovary  of  the 
latter  example  proved  that  it  was  a  breeding  female." 
(1891c). 

No.  44   (?).     Female.     Greensboro.     No  other  data. 

187.  OPORORNIS  FORMOSUS  (Wilson). 

KENTUCKY  WARBLER. 

"Common.     Summer  resident.     Breeds."    (1891c). 

"April  10,  1893.  The  Kentucky  warbler  was  heard 
singing  yesterday  and  again  today.  His  monotonous 
'Tweedle!  Tweedle!  Tweedle!'  proclaim  his  arrival  and 
also  his  intention  of  rearing  a  family  at  some  early  pe- 
riod. This  warbler  is  common  in  Hale  County  but  his  re- 
tired habits  make  it  not  an  easy  task  to  study  his  manner 
of  nidification.  He  is  very  shy,  affecting  the  dense  cover 
and  undergrowth  bordering  some  stream  of  water,  and 
rarely  leaving  the  ground  to  fly  into  the  trees  'till  he  is 
either  seeking  a  mate  or  wishes  to  exhibit  to  his  admiring 
companion  that  he  is  what  his  name  indicates :  Formosa 
or  beautiful.  Then  his  'Tweedle!  Tweedle!  Tweedle!'  re- 
sounds overhead,  as  he  flies  from  tree  to  tree.  He  re- 
turns from  winter  quarters  about  the  first  week  in  April 


124       GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF  ALABAMA 


and  departs  for  the  tropics,  I  believe,  before  the  first  of 
October. 

"On  June  4th,  1889,  I  took  a  nest  of  formosa  on  a 
shady,  steep  hillside,  at  the  foot  of  a  small  sassafras  (S. 
officinale).  The  set  contained  four  eggs;  incubation 
slight. 

"My  latest  record  of  G.  formosa  is  September  the  12th ; 
my  observations  lead  me  to  believe  that  it  does  not  tarry 
long  after  this  date."  (Original  notes). 

No.  547.  Female-hornot.  Greensboro.  July  21,  1890.  W.  C. 
Avery. 

No.  613.     Male.     Greensboro.     Aug.  25,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

188.     GEOTHLYPIS  TRICHAS  IGNOTA   (Chapman). 
FLORIDA  YELLOW-THROAT. 

The  first  mention  of  this  species  is  the  record  of  a  male 
taken  June  17,  1876,  at  Greensboro,  whose  "stomach  con- 
tained debris  of  insects."  The  following  was  appended: 
"This  little  bird  seems  to  abound  in  the  thickets  about 
marshes  and  streams.  Its  song  is  so  similar  to  that  of 
the  house  wren  (Troglodytes  aedon,  the  singing  trog- 
lodyte) that  it  requires  a  practised  ear  to  distinguish  be- 
tween them."  Another  bit  of  evidence  that  the  Doctor 
was  young  at  the  work  in  '76. 

A  couple  of  early  records  are  Feb.  15,  1887,  when  the 
Doctor  heard  the  notes  of  a  yellow-throat,  and  Mar.  20th, 
when  an  adult  male  was  seen.  A  female  was  taken  on 
Mar.  11,  1890. 

May  24,  1888,  a  set  of  three  eggs  was  collected  near 
Greensboro.  "Incubation  of  three  or  four  days.  Nest 
was  concealed  on  a  blackberry  vine,  and  supported  about 
three  or  four  inches  from  the  ground,  in  thick  briers  and 
weeds." 

In  April,  1891,  the  Doctor  writes  in  his  journal :  "Nest 
of  Geothlypis  trichas  was  found  on  the  23rd ;  it  contained 
only  one  egg ;  an  egg  was  laid  every  day  till  the  set  (four) 
was  produced.  Nest  on  the  ground  near  a  bunch  of 
broom  grass  (Andropogon  virginica) ." 

"Common.     Summer  resident.     Breeds."  (1891c). 

No.  406.     Female.     Greensboro.     Mar.  11.   1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 
No.  657.     Male.     Greensboro.     Sept.  6,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 


AVERY   BIRD   COLLECTION  125 


No.  921.     Male  im.     Greensboro.     Sept.  10,  1891.     W.  C.  Avery. 
No.  1043.     Male.     Greensboro.     Apr.  15,  1893.     W.  C.  Avery. 


189.     ICTERIA  VIRENS  VIRENS    (Linnseus). 
YELLOW-BREASTED  CHAT. 

No.  3  (old  series)  of  Dr.  Avery's  collection  was  an  adult 
male  of  this  species  taken  May  27,  1876,  near  Content- 
ment, iy2  miles  southwest  of  Greensboro.  The  stomach 
contained  blackberry  seed  and  debris  of  insects.  After 
recording  the  specimen  he  writes:  "This  bird  is  a  sum- 
mer visitant,  appearing  in  April  and  disappearing  with 
cool  weather  in  the  fall. 

"He  is  a  noisy  bird;  generally  found  in  cool,  low, 
marshy  places,  where  sometimes  leaving  his  dark  haunts, 
he  perches  upon  a  tall  tree  and  utters  a  succession  of 
strange  notes  such  as  'baw-tate-tate-tate-chuck'  and  then 
a  whistle.  These  are  but  a  few  of  the  strange  sounds 
with  which  he  enlivens  his  shady  haunts. 

"He  doubtless  breeds  here,  though  I  have  never  seen  his 
nest  nor  found  his  young." 

Writing  in  1888,  the  Doctor  says :  "I  was  waked  from 
profound  sleep  by  the  fluttering  of  a  bird  in  my  room 
on  the  morning  of  April  21  at  three  o'clock.  I  lighted 
my  lamp  and  caught  the  bewildered  bird,  No.  55  of  my 
collection/'  The  stomach  of  this  specimen  contained 
insects. 

May  21.  1888,  a  set  of  four  eggs  was  taken  near  Greens- 
boro. "Incubation  advanced.  Nest  in  plum  tree  (Primus 
chicasa  Michx.),  two  feet  from  the  ground.  Measure- 
ments of  eggs:  No.  1,  .85  by  .67;  No.  2,  .81  by  .66;  No. 
3,  .82  by  .65;  No.  4,  .80  by  .67;  average  .82  by  .67.  Sent 
to  Capt.  Charles  Bendire." 

"Common.     Summer  resident.  Breeds."    (1891c). 

The  chat  was  taken  by  Dr.  Avery  near  the  mouth  of 
Perdido  Bay  on  his  visit  to  Baldwin  County,  Sept.  16th 
to  October  2nd,  1892. 

No.   55.     Male.     Greensboro.     Am*.   21.   1888.     W.   C.   Avery. 
No.  602,     MaK     Greensboro.     Aue:.  23,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 
No.  1039.     Male.     Greensboro.     Apr.  8,  1893.     W.  C.  Avery. 


126       GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF  ALABAMA 


190.     WILSONIA    CITRINA    (Boddaert). 
HOODED  WARBLER. 

"Common.  Observed  during  spring  and  autumn  mi- 
gration. One  specimen  was  taken  on  June  30  at  Millwood, 
on  the  Warrior  River.  It  may  be  inferred  from  this 
fact  that  this  warbler  breeds  in  Hale  County."  (1891c). 

One  specimen  of  this  species  was  taken  on  September 
17th,  1892,  on  Bear  Point,  Baldwin  County. 

No.  557.  Female.     Greensboro.     Aug.  11,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  563.  Male.     Greensboro.     Aug.   12,   1890.     W.   C.  Avery. 

No.  624.  Male.     Greensboro.     Aug.  30,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  626.  Female.     Greensboro.     Aug.  30,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  627.  Female.     Greensboro.     Aug.  30,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  902.  Male.     Greensboro.     Aug.  25,  1891.     W.   C.  Avery. 

No.  1000  (?).     Male.     Greensboro.     May  6,  1893.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  1041.  Female.     Greensboro.     Apr.  15,  1893.     W.  C.  Avery. 
No.    1074.     Male.     Greensboro.     Sept.   30,   1893.     W.    C.    Avery. 

191.  WILSONIA  CANADENSIS.   (Linnaeus). 

CANADA  WARBLER. 

"One  specimen  only  taken  on  August  29  last."  (1891c). 
No.  618.     Male.     Greensboro.     Aug.  29,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

192.  SETOPHAGA  RUTICILLA   (Linnaeus). 

REDSTART. 

"Abundant  in  the  river  bottom.  Summer  resident. 
Breeds.  (1891c)) 

No.  683.     Male.     Greensboro.     Sept.  17,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 
No.  708.     Female.     Greensboro.     Sept.  26,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 
No.   737.     Male.     Greensboro.     Oct.   7,   1890.     W.    C.   Avery. 

193.     ANTHUS   RUBESCENS    (Tunstall). 
PIPIT. 

"Common.     Winter  resident."    (1891c). 

No.  341.     Male.     Greensboro.     Jan.   4,   1890.     W.   C.   Avery. 

194.     MIMUS  POLYGLOTTOS  POLYGLOTTOS   (Linnaaus). 
MOCKINGBIRD. 

"Abundant.  Resident.  Breeds.  Much  has  been  said 
about  the  difference  in  excellence  of  the  song  of  this 
bird.  The  mature  old  males  sing  best;  while  it  re- 
quires perhaps  two  or  three  seasons  for  the  younger 
males  to  attain  the  full  development  of  their  vocal  powers. 


AVERY  BIRD   COLLECTION  127 

One  has  but  to  hear  the  feeble  efforts  at  song  of  the 
young  males  of  the  first  season  to  perceive  the  difference. 
Several  years  ago  there  was  an  adult  male,  however, 
that  made  the  most  discordant  sounds;  his  song,  if  that 
can  be  called  song,  which  was  a  repetition  for  hours  at  a 
time  of  the  same  monotonous  noise,  such  as  'chay !  chay ! 
chay!  chay!'  prolonged  indefinitely  in  the  same  key,  was 
the  only  music  he  ever  produced.  I  often  asked  myself: 
'Is  that  bird  an  idiot,  or  is  his  musical  apparatus  defec- 
tive'?" (1891c). 

A  set  of  four  eggs  of  the  mocking-bird  was  taken  from 
a  hawthorn,  about  three  feet  from  the  ground,  near 
Greensboro,  April  25,  1888.  The  eggs  measured :  .91  by 
.72,  .89  by  .71,  .94  by  .70,  and  .95  by  .71. 

Young  mockingbirds  one-third  grown  were  recorded  on 
the  28th  of  April,  1891,  in  the  Doctor's  journal. 

Among  the  Doctor's  Baldwin  County  notes,  Sept.  16th 
to  Oct.  2nd,  1892,  is  the  following:  "Mockingbirds  were 
abundant ;  there  were  many  seen ;  near  Pensacola,  in  fact 
in  the  incorporated  limits  of  the  town,  hundreds  were 
seen  feeding  on  pokeberries." 

It  is  an  interesting  fact  that  the  label  of  the  unnum- 
bered specimen  cited  below  bears  this  note :  "Collected  by 
C.  hudsoniiis." 

No Male.  juv.     Greensboro.     Sept.  17,  1889.  W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  315.  Male.  Greensboro.  Dec.  13,  1889.  W.  C.  Avery. 
No.  320.  Male.  Greensboro.  Dec.  20,  1889.  W.  C.  Avery. 
No.  528.  Female.  Greensboro.  June  2,  1890.  W.  C.  Avery. 
No.  1086.  Male.  Greensboro.  Oct.  10,  1893.  W.  C.  Avery. 
No.  1110.  Female.  Greensboro.  Dec.  30,  1893.  W.  C.  Avery. 
No.  1111.  Male.  Greensboro.  Mar.  5,  1894.  W.  C.  Avery. 

The  last  named  specimen  was  the  last  bird  collected 
by  Dr.  Avery.  It  is  significant  of  his  activity  as  an  ornith- 
ologist that  this  specimen  was  taken  just  six  days  be- 
fore his  death. 

195.     DUMETELLA   CAROLINENSIS    (Linnaeus). 
CATBIRD. 

This  species  is  entirely  omitted  from  Dr.  Avery's  list, 
"Birds  Observed  in  Alabama,"  though  a  number  of  speci- 
mens fell  to  his  gun.  Besides  his  Hale  County  records, 


128       GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF  ALABAMA 


he  noted  that  catbirds  were  abundant  in  Baldwin  County, 
Sept.  16th  to  Oct.  2,  1892. 

No.  21.     Male.     Greensboro.     May  18,  1887.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  283.     No  data. 

No.  294.     No  data. 

No.  664.     Male.     Greensboro.     Sept.  9,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  1075.     Female.     Greensboro.     Oct.  3,  1893.     W.  C.  Avery. 

196.     TOXOSTOMA    RUFUM    (Linnseus). 
BROWN  THRASHER. 

"Common.     Resident.     Breeds."    (1891c). 

The  Baldwin  County  notes  for  Sept.  16th  to  Oct.  2, 
1892,  include  the  following:  "Brown  thrashers  were  seen 
near  the  lagoon  on  the  Gulf  Coast  on  Sept.  26th." 

No.   525.  Male.     Greensboro.     May   31,   1890.     W.    C.   Avery. 

No.  553.  Male-hornot.  Greensboro.  July  28,  1890.  W.  C. 
Avery. 

No.  673.  Female.     Greensboro.     Sept.  16,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  833.  Male.     Greensboro.     May  4,   1891.     W.   C.   Avery. 

No.  1100.  Male.     Greensboro.     Oct.  26,  1893.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  1101.  Male.     Greensboro.     Oct.  26,  1893.     W.  C,  Avery. 

197.     THRYOTHORUS  LUDOVICIANUS  LUDOVICIANUS 

(Latham) . 
CAROLINA  WREN. 

"Abundant.     Resident.     Breeds."    (1891c). 

Under  date  of  June  3,  1876,  Dr.  Avery  enters  specimen 
No.  5,  an  adult  male  of  this  species,  in  his  journal,  and 
writes : 

"A  common  bird  in  Alabama,  where  he  is  found  during 
the  whole  year.  His  song  is  not  varied,  but  loud  and 
musical.  When  a  rain  has  refreshed  the  parched  earth, 
and  the  sunshine  plays  upon  the  green  trees  and  herbage, 
his  song  may  often  be  heard,  as  if  he  too  rejoiced  with 
all  nature." 

The  stomach  of  a  specimen  taken  June  1,  1889,  con- 
tained a  "chinch  bug  and  other  insects." 

The  Carolina  wren  was  recorded  as  common  in  Baldwin 
County,  Sept.  16th  to  Oct.  2,  1892. 

No.  158.  Female.     Greensboro.     June  1.  1889.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  286.  Female.     Greensboro.     Nov.  25.   1889.     W,    C.   Avery. 

No.   322.  Male.     Greensboro.     Dec.   20,    1889.     W.   C.   Avery. 

No.  757.  Male.     Greensboro.     Oct.  16,  1890.     W.   C.  Avery. 


AVERT  BIRD  COLLECTION  129 


No.  883.     Male.     Anniston.     July  8,  1891.     W.  C.  Avery. 
No.  884.     Female.     Anniston.     July  8,  1891.     W.   C.  Avery. 

198.     THRYOMANES   BEWICKI   BEWICKI    (Audubon). 
BEWICK'S  WREN. 

"Not  common.     Winter  resident."   (1891c). 
The  earliest  fall  arrival  of  the  species  recorded  is  Sept. 
17,  1891. 

No.  243.     Male.     Greensboro.     Oct.  12,  1889.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  282.     Female.     Greensboro.     Nov.  30,  1889.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  338.     Male.     Greensboro.     Jan.  3,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  791.     Female.     Greensboro.     Oct.  25,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  794.     Male.     Greensboro.     Oct.  25,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  1068.     Male.     Greensboro.     Sept.  21,  1893.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  1080.     Male.     Greensboro.     Oct.  9,  1893.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  1081.     Male.     Greensboro.     Oct.  9,  1893.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  1088.     Female.     Greensboro.     Oct.  14,  1893.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  1091.     Male.     Greensboro.     Oct.  16,  1893.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  1103.     Female.     Greensboro.     Oct.  27,  1893.     W.  C.  Avery. 

199.     TROGLODYTES  JEDON  ^EDON  (Vieillot). 
HOUSE  WREN. 

Under  date  of  Sept.  8,  1886,  Dr.  Avery  records  a  house 
wren,  but  this  record  is  rather  doubtful  because  he  omit- 
ted it  from  his  "Birds  Observed  in  Alabama."  Again, 
April  6,  1893,  he  notes  in  his  journal:  "A  very  small 
wren  was  seen  in  a  rose  hedge.  It  was  not  the  winter 
wren  nor  Carolina  nor  Bewicks'  hence  it  must  have 
been  Troglodytes  aedon."  However,  in  1893,  a  specimen 
was  taken  at  Greensboro  and  is  still  in  the  collection. 

No.   1022.     Male.     Greensboro.     1893.     W.   C.   Avery. 

200.     CERTHIA  FAMILIARIS   AMERICANA    (Bonaparte). 
BROWN  CREEPER. 

"Not  common.     Winter  resident."   (1891c). 

No.  308.  Male.  Greensboro.  Dec.  11,  1889.  W.  C.  Avery. 
No.  343.  Male.  Greensboro.  Jan.  4,  1890.  W.  C.  Avery. 
No.  775.  Female.  Greensboro.  Oct.  21,  1890.  W.  C.  Avery. 

201.     SITTA  CAROLINENSIS  ATKINSI  (Scott). 
FLORIDA  WHITE-BREASTED  NUTHATCH. 

"Not  common.     Kesident.     Breeds."  (1891c). 

No.  418.     Male.     Greensboro.     Mar.  15,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 
No.  890.     Male.     Greensboro.     Aug.  11,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

5— AB 


130       GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF  ALABAMA 

202.     SITTA  CANADENSIS  (Linnjeus). 
RED-BREASTED  NUTHATCH. 

"Migrant.  In  my  collection  is  one  example  taken 
October  4,  1888,  the  only  one  I  have  ever  met  with." 
(1891c). 

The  red-breasted  nuthatch  is  not  a  regular  migrant 
in  Alabama,  but  should  more  properly  be  classed  as  a 
straggler. 

No.  93.     Male  (adult)      Greensboro.     Oct.  4,  1888.  W.  C.  Avery. 

203.     SITTA  PUSILLA   (Latham). 
BROWN-HEADED  NUTHATCH. 

"Common.     Kesident.     Breeds."  (1891c). 

May  1,  1888,  a  set  of  five  eggs  was  taken  two  miles 
west  of  Greensboro.  "Nest  was  in  a  post,  about  five  feet 
from  the  ground.  The  parent  when  exposed  by  having 
the  excavation,  in  which  she  was  sitting,  laid  open  to  the 
bottom,  did  not  move  'till  the  hand  was  extended  to  take 
her  from  the  nest.  The  entrance  to  the  nest  was  a  cir- 
cular hole  about  two  inches  in  diameter ;  the  cavity  being 
about  ten  inches  deep  and  three  or  four  inches  wide,  the 
hole  at  the  bottom  being  extended  laterally  and  excavated 
so  as  to  receive  the  nest.  This  was  of  cotton  and  hair, 
lined  with  the  samaras  of  maple  or  ash."  Eggs  measured : 
.59  by  .45,  .56  by  .45,  .56  x  .44,  .58  by  .47,  and  .56  by  .45. 

May  2,  1888,  a  set  of  four  eggs  was  taken  near  the 
same  locality.  Incubation  just  begun.  "Nest  was  about 
four  feet  from  the  ground  in  a  dead  pine  stump;  bird 
sat  on  nest  till  I  broke  away  outside  shell  and  exposed  her 
to  view."  Eggs  measured :  .62  by  .48,  .60  by  .48,  .65  by 
.47,  and  .63  by  .47. 

The  Doctor  records  seeing  brown-headed  nuthatches  in 
Baldwin  County,  Oct.  2,  1892. 

No.  222.  Male.     Greensboro.     Sept.  22,  1889.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  423.  Male.     Greensboro.     Mar.  15,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  424.  Female.     Greensboro.     Mar.  15,  1890.     W.   C.  Avery. 

No.  641.  Female.     Greensboro.     Sept.    4,    1890.     W.    C.    Avery. 

No.  885.  Male.     Anniston.     July  1,  1891.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  965.  Male.     Greensboro.     Dec.  23,  1891.     W.  C.  Avery. 


AVERY  BIRD   COLLECTION  131 


204.     BJEOLOPHUS  BICOLOR   (Linnaeus). 
TUFTED  TITMOUSE. 

"Common.     Resident.     Breeds."    (1891c). 
Several  recorded  in  Baldwin  County,  Sept.  16th  to  Oct. 
2,  1892. 

No.  342.     Female.     Greensboro.     Jan.  4,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 
No.  419.     Male.     Greensboro.     Mar.  15,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 
No.  778.     Male.     Greensboro.     Oct.  21,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 


205.     PENTHESTES    CAROLINENSIS    CAROLINENSIS 

(Audubon). 
CAROLINA  CHICKADEE. 

"Common.    Resident.    Breeds."   (1891c). 
Recorded  in  Baldwin  County,  Sept.  30,  1892. 

No.  277.  Female.     Greensboro.     Nov.  23,  1889.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  300.  Female.     Greensboro.     Dec.  9,  1889.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  302.  Male.     Greensboro.     Dec.  10,  1889.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  426.  Male.     Greensboro.     Mar.  15,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 


206.     REGULUS  SATRAPA  SATRAPA    (Lichtenstein). 
GOLDEN-CROWNED   KINGLET. 

"Common.     Winter  resident."  (1891c). 

No.  264.     Male.     Greensboro.     Nov.  9,  1889.     W.  C.  Avery. 
No.  336.     Female.     Greensboro.     Jan.  3,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 
No.  429.     Sex  (?).     Mar.  20,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 
No.  799.     Female.     Greensboro.     Oct.   27,   1890.     W.   C.   Avery. 

No Odd  specimen — No  data. 

No Odd  specimen — No  data. 


207.     REGULUS  CALENDULA  CALENDULA  (Linnaeus). 
RUBY-CROWNED  KINGLET. 

"Common.     Winter  resident."   (1891c). 

No.  816,  cited  below,  was  singing  when  shot.  Unfor- 
tunately for  Alabamians,  however,  the  ruby-crown  does 
not  render  its  song  in  full  volume  while  within  the  State. 
It  is  one  of  the  most  remarkable  of  North  American 
songsters. 

No.  104.  Male.     Greensboro.     Apr.  6,  1889.     W.   C.  Avery. 

No.  105.  Female.     Greensboro.     Apr.  6,  1889.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  249.  Male.     Greensboro.     Oct.  26,  1889.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  771.  Female.     Greensboro.     Oct.  19,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  816.  Male.     Greensboro.     Mar.  22,  1891.     W.  C.  Avery. 


J32  GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF  ALABAMA 

208.     POLIOPTILA  C^ERULEA  (LERULEA  (Linnaeus). 
BLUE-GRAY  GNATCATCHER. 

"Abundant.     Summer  resident.     Breeds."  (1891c). 

The  gnatcatcher  was  first  recorded  under  date  of  June 
3,  1876,  when  an  adult  male  was  taken  at  Greensboro. 
Part  of  the  entry  follows :  "This  bird  is  found  in  warm 
weather.  The  nest,  like  that  of  the  hummingbird,  is 
beautifully  constructed,  woven  around  and  to  the  sides  of 
the  branches  so  as  to  appear  like  an  excrescence." 

The  following  interesting  record  of  the  Doctor's  early 
struggle  with  ornithology  is  taken  from  his  "Oological 
Register"  under  date  of  May  14,  1876:  "This  nest  (gnat- 
catcher)  is  that  of  the  smallest  bird  in  this  country  ex- 
cept the  hummingbird.  When  I  was  a  boy  there  was  a 
smaller  bird  than  the  builder  of  nest  No.  3.  It  has  dis- 
appeared. It  exists  in  this  region,  at  least,  no  more. 
It  was  so  small  that  the  smallest  sparrow  compared  to  it 
was  large.  My  recollection  of  it  is  that  it  had  a  small 
yellow  spot  upon  the  occiput  and  was  of  a  leaden  color  on 
the  belly,  while  the  back  was  of  a  greenish  tinge.  It  has 
been  many  years  since  I  saw  it,  perhaps  twenty-five.  It 
hopped  about  upon  the  trees  and  especially  upon  the 
small  pines,  examining  minutely  every  leaf  for  its  food. 
It  was  so  gentle  that  I  remember  once  when  a  boy  that 
for  want  of  another  missile  that  I  took  my  cap  from  my 
head  and  struck  one  dead  from  a  bush." 

It  is  quite  patent  that  the  gentle  bird  was  a  golden- 
crowned  kinglet,  but  it  is  surprising  that  one  whose  ob- 
servational powers  were  so  keen  as  to  fix  a  fairly  accur- 
ate description  in  his  mind  for  twenty-five  'years  should 
so  long  overlook  a  common  winter  visitant. 

May  4,  1888,  a  set  of  five  eggs  was  collected  eight 
miles  south  of  Greensboro.  The  nest  was  in  a  sweet 
gum,  fifteen  feet  from  the  ground.  Three  of  the  eggs 
were  broken;  the  remaining  two  measured:  .56  by  .49 
and  .58  by  .48. 

April  4,  1893,  while  making  observations  on  the  nest- 
ing of  the  yellow-throated  warbler  Dr.  Avery  discovered 
another  nest  of  the  gnatcatcher.  He  writes :  "The  wheezy, 


AVERY  BIRD   COLLECTION  133 

squeaking  calls  of  two  blue-gray  gnatcatchers  were  heard 
in  the  water  oak,  and  one  of  the  birds  flew  to  the  ground 
and  gathered  material  for  a  nest  from  the  side  of  a  de- 
cayed stump  within  ten  feet  of  where  we  sat.  A  few 
minutes'  search  was  rewarded  by  the  discovery  of  the 
nest  upon  the  horizontal  branch  of  an  elm  not  more  than 
a  hundred  feet  from  the  water  oak.  The  beautiful,  lich- 
en covered  cup  was  glued  to  the  surface  of  the  branch  so 
tightly  that  no  wind  could  move  it,  frail  though  it  was, 
from  the  spot  where  the  skillful  architect  had  placed  it." 
The  species  was  recorded  on  Perdido  Bay,  Sept.  16th 
to  Oct.  2,  1892. 

No.  231.     Male.     Greensboro.     Mar.  26,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 
No.  567.     Male.     Greensboro.     Aug.  12,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

209.     HYLOCICHLA   MUSTELINA    (Gmelin). 
WOOD  THRUSH. 

"Swamp  Sparrow" 

"Common.     Summer  resident.  .Breeds."    (1891c). 

June  26,  1875,  Dr.  Avery  wrote  in  French  in  his  jour- 
nal :  "I  found  today  the  nest  of  a  bird  which  is  called  in 
English  'swamp  sparrow.'  In  the  morning  they  (the 
two  birds)  began  the  nest  and  finished  it  in  the  after- 
noon of  the  same  day :  I  did  not  think  that  it  was  possible 
that  a  bird  could  construct  its  nest  so  soon."  (The  wood 
thrush  is  commonly  known  to  the  people  of  certain  rural 
sections  of  Alabama  as  "swamp  sparrow"). 

April  26,  1888,  a  set  of  four  eggs  was  taken  at  Greens- 
boro ;  incubation  just  begun.  The  nest  was  in  the  top  of  a 
small  shell-bark  hickory,  about  ten  feet  from  the  ground. 
The  eggs  measured :  1.05  by  .76,  1.03  by  .74,  1.01  by  .72, 
and  .97  by  .71.  This  set  was  sent  to  Capt.  Charles 
Bendire. 

No.  44.  Male.     Greensboro.     Apr.  4,  1888.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No   542.  Male.     Greensboro.     July  16,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No    711.  Female.     Greensboro.     Sept.  29,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  712.  Male.     Greensboro.     Sept.  29,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No    717.  Female.     Greensboro.     Sept.  30,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No*  875.  Male     Anniston.     July  3,  1891.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No    937.  Male.     Greensboro.     Sept.  25,  1891.     W.  C.  Avery. 


134  GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF  ALABAMA 


210.     HYLOCICHLA  FUSCESCENS  FUSCESCENS   (Stephens). 
VEERY.    WILSON'S  THRUSH. 

"My  first  record  of  this  thrush  for  the  autumn  migra- 
tion of  last  year  is  September  9,  my  last  is  September 
25.  Between  these  dates  it  was  frequently  seen,  and 
though  I  was  out,  on  an  average,  four  days  in  the  week 
till  the  first  of  November,  no  specimen  was  met  with  after 
September  25."  (1891c). 

A  specimen  was  taken  on  Bear  Point,  Perdido  Bay, 
Sept.  17,  1892. 

No.  636.  Female.     Greensboro.     Sept.  3,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  662.  Male.     Greensboro.     Sept.  9,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  667.  Male.     Greensboro.     Sept.  11,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  675.  Male.     Greensboro.     Sept.  16,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  680  (?).     Greensboro.     Sept.  15,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  689.  Male.     Greensboro.     Sept.  19,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  694.  Female.     Greensboro.     Sept.  22,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  695.  Male.     Greensboro.     Sept.  22,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  700.  Male.     Greensboro.     Sept.  23,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  704.  Female.     Greensboro.     Sept.  25,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  905.  Male.     Greensboro.     Aug.  26,  1891.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  918.  Male.     Greensboro.     Sept.  10,  1891.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  929.  Female.     Greensboro.     Sept.  23,  1891.     W.  C.  Avery. 

211.     HYLOCICHLA  ALICDE  ALICLE    (Baird). 
GRAY-CHEEKED  THRUSH. 

Apparently  the  Doctor  did  not  distinguish  this,  the 
typical  subspecies,  from  BicknelPs  thrush  for  two  of 
the  three  specimens  mentioned  under  the  latter  form  in 
his  "Birds  Observed  in  Alabama"  are  really  referable  to 
aliciae. 

No.  703.  Female.     Greensboro.     Sept.  25,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  724.  Male.     Greensboro.     Oct.  2,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  725.  Male.     Greensboro.     Oct.  2,   1890.     W.   C.   Avery. 

No.  739.  Female.     Greensboro.     Oct.  7,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  762.  Female.     Greensboro.     Oct.  17,  1890.     W.C.  Avery. 

No.  772.  Male.     Greensboro.     Oct.  20,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  916.  Male.     Greensboro.     Sept.  10,  1891.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  930.  Female.     Greensboro.     Sept.  23,  1891.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  931.  Male.     Greensboro.     Sept.  23,  1891.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  939.  Female.     Greensboro.     Sept.  26,  1891.     W.  C.  Avery. 

212.     HYLOCICHLA   ALICIAE    BICKNELLI    (Ridgway) . 
BICKNELI/S  THRUSH. 

"One  was  taken  on  September  17.  The  next  record  is 
September  25,  the  last  October  20.  These  thrushes  were 


AVERY  BIRD  COLLECTION  135 


frequently  seen  from  the  first  to  the  twentieth  of  October, 
the  date  of  my  last  record."  (1891c) . 

No.  687.     Male.     Greensboro.     Sept.  17,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 
No.  719.     Female.     Greensboro.     Oct.  1,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 
No.  928.     Female.     Greensboro.     Sept.  19,  1891.     W.  C.  Avery. 
No.  936.     Female.     Greensboro.     Sept.  25,  1891.     W.  C.  Avery. 
No.  1067.     Female.     Greensboro.     Sept.  20,  1893.     W.  C.  Avery. 

213.     HYLOCICHLA  USTULATA   SWAINSONI    (Tschudi). 
OLIVE-BACKED  THRUSH. 

"Was  observed  from  the  twentieth  of  September  till 
the  first  week  in  October.  This  species  with  the  two  pre- 
ceding fed  mostly  upon  the  berries  of  the  Black  Gum 
(Nyssa  multiflora)  ;  and  could  be  seen  at  all  times  of 
the  day  flying  to  and  from  these  trees.  The  specimens 
obtained  were  so  fat  that  it  was  with  difficulty  that  a 
good  skin  could  be  made  from  them.  How  these  birds 
could  migrate  for  a  thousand  miles  perhaps,  and  cross 
the  sea,  as  some  of  them  do,  carrying  so  much  dead 
weight,  is  difficult  to  imagine.  And  yet  they  do  fly 
without  trouble.  It  may  be  that  this  extra  adipose  ma- 
terial is  a  supply  stored  up  for  their  journey,  without 
which  they  might  not  accomplish  it."  (1891c). 

No.  223.  Sex  (?).     Greensboro.     Sept.  27,  1889.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  686.  Male.     Greensboro.     Sept.  17,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  714.  Female.     Greensboro.     Sept.  30,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  716.  Male.     Greensboro.     Sept.  30,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  720.  Male.     Greensboro.     Oct.  1,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  721.  Male.     Greensboro.     Oct.  1,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  726.  Female.     Greensboro.     Oct.  2,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  750.  Male.     Greensboro.     Oct.  13,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  935.  Female.     Greensboro.     Sept.  25,  1891.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  938.  Female.     Greensboro.     Sept.  26,  1891.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  1056.  Male.     Greensboro.     May  3,  1893.     W.  C.  Averv. 

214.     HYLOCICHLA  GUTTATA  PALLASI  (Cabanis). 
HERMIT  THRUSH. 

"Not  common.  Winter  resident.  First  arrival  re- 
corded this  fall  is  on  October  24."  (1891c). 

The  stomachs  of  three  specimens,  taken  Jan.  22,  1878, 
April  4,  1888,  and  April  5,  1888,  respectively,  contained 
beetles. 

No.  233.     No  data. 

No.  273.     Female.     Greensboro.     Nov.  14,  1889.     W.  C.  Avery. 


136       GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF  ALABAMA 


No.  325.  Male.  Greensboro.  Dec.  21,  1889.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  356.  Male.  Greensboro.  Jan.   25,    1890.     W.    C.   Avery. 

No.  789.  Male.  Greensboro.  Oct.  24,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  796.  Male.  Greensboro.  Oct.  25,  1890.     W.  C.x  Avery. 

No.  804.  Male.  Greensboro.  Nov.  5,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

215.     PLANESTICUS  MIGRATORIUS  ACHRUSTERUS 

(Batchelder). 
SOUTHERN  ROBIN. 

"Common.  Winter  resident.  First  appeared  in  this 
locality  this  fall,  on  October  19.  Two  pairs  of  robins 
nested  the  past  season  in  the  yard  of  John  L.  Cobbs,  state 
treasurer,  in  the  city  of  Montgomery.  The  young  were 
reared,  and  they  remained  with  their  parents  in  the  yard 
of  Mr.  Cobbs  all  the  summer  and  were  still  there  in 
October,  as  was  reported  to  me  on  inquiring.  This  is 
the  first  instance  known  to  me  of  the  robins  nesting  so 
far  south.  If  these  birds  are  not  shot  this  winter,  they 
may  remain  to  breed  again  next  year ;  and  we  may  have 
the  interesting  spectacle  of  a  colony  of  robins  in  a  south- 
ern city."  (1891c).  This  colony  did  not  materialize,  how- 
ever, and  the  record  remains  unique. 

No.  408.  Male.     Greensboro.     Mar.  11,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  412.  Female.     Greensboro.     Mar.  13,  1890.     W.  A.  Cobbs. 

No.  787.  Male.     Greensboro.     Oct.  23,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  815.  Female.     Greensboro.     Mar.  20,  1891.     W.  C.  Avery. 

216.     SIALIA  SIALIS   SIALIS    (Limueus). 
BLUEBIRD. 

"Common.     Resident.     Breeds."    (1891c). 

Recorded  in  pine  woods  on  Perdido  Bay,  Sept.  26,  1892. 

No.  244.  Male.     Greensboro.     Oct.  12,  1889.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  357.  Male.     Greensboro.     Jan.  25,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  409.  Male.     Greensboro.     Mar.  11,  1890.     W.   C.  Avery. 

No.  461.  Female.     Greensboro.     Apr.  14,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 

No.  722.  Male.     Greensboro.     Oct.  1,  1890.     W.  C.  Avery. 


BIBLIOGRAPHY  OF  WILLIAM  CUSHMAN  AVERY, 

M.  D. 


1884.     (Letter  to  Editor  on  bird  migration.) 

<American  Field,  Vol.  XXI,  No.  23,  June  7, 
p.  545. 

1886a.  Migration  of  the  Coot. 

< Ornithologist  and  Oologist,  Vol.  XI,  No.  7, 

July,  p.  107. 
b.  Domestication  of  the  Wild  Turkey. 

<American  Field,  Vol.  XXVI,  No.  15,  Oct. 
9,  p.  343. 

1887.  Wiles  of  the  Peregrine  Falcon. 

<0rn.  and  Ool.,  Vol.  XII,  No.  5,  May,  pp. 

74-75. 

1888.  King  Rail  in  Louisiana  (misprint  for  Alabama). 

<0rn.  and  Ool.,  Vol.  XIII,  No.  5,  May,  p.  80. 

1889a.  Observations  on  the  Grasshopper  Sparrow  in  Hale 
County,  Alabama. 

<0rn.  and  Ool.,  Vol.  XIV,  No.  8,  August,  p. 
122. 

b.  Chondestes  grammacus. 

<Am.  Field,  Vol.  XXXII,  No.  9,  August  31, 
p.  200. 

c.  Notes.  (Records  instance  of  male  Bob  White  incu- 

bating at  Greensboro,  Ala.) 

<Am.  Field,  Vol.  XXXII,  No.  10,  Sept.  7,  p. 
223. 

1890a.  The  Woodcock. 

<Am.  Field,  Vol.  XXXIII,  No.  25,  June  21, 

p.  584. 
b.  Swainson's  Warbler  in  Hale  County,  Alabama. 

<Orn.  and  Ool.,  Vol.  XV,  No.  10,  October,  p. 
157. 


138       GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF  ALABAMA 

c.  Number  of  Eggs  in  a  Set  of  the  Cardinal. 

<Orn.  and  Ool.,  Vol.  XV,  No.  12,  December, 

p.  185. 
Birds  Observed  in  Alabama. 

d.  No.  KAm.  Field,  Vol.  XXXIV,  No.  25,  Dec.  20, 

p.  584. 

e.  No.  2.<Am.  Field,  Vol.  XXXIV,  No.  26,  Dec.  27, 

p.  607. 

1891a.  No.  3.<Am.  Field,  Vol.  XXXV,  No.  1,  Jan.  3,  p.  8. 

b.  No.  4.<Am.  Field,  Vol.  XXXV,  No.  2,  Jan.  10,  p. 

32. 

c.  No.  5.<Am.  Field,  Vol.  XXXV,  No.  3,  Jan.  17,  p. 

55. 

1893a.  Natural  History  (Records  of  Pelecanus  erythror- 
hynchos  at  Livingston  and  Pelecanus  occiden- 
talis  near  Fort  Morgan,  Ala.) 

<Am.  Field,  Vol.  XL,  No.  1,  July  1,  p.  7. 
b.   (Rapidity  of  flight  of  the  Duck  Hawk) . 

<0rn.  and  Ool.,  Vol.  XVIII,  No.  10,  October. 
p.  144. 


INDEX  OF  SCIENTIFIC  AND  COMMON  NAMES. 
AVERY  BIRD  COLLECTION 


Accipiter    cooperi,    Bonaparte 

velox,   Wilson 

Actitis    macularia,    Linn 


Agelaius   phoeniceus   phoeniceus,   Linn 71 

predatorius,  Wilson  71 

Aix  sponsa,  Linn 24 

Aluco   pratincola,    Bonaparte 57 

Ammodrammus   savannarum   australis, 

Maynard     80 

Anas    platyrhynchos,    Linn _ 23 

rubripes,    Brewster 23 

Anhinga    anhinga,    Linn _ — 22 

Anthus   rubesccns,   Tunstall _ 126 

Antrostomus    carolinensis,    Gmel 64 

vociferus  vociferus,  Wilson  65 

Archiloehus   colubris,    Linn 66 

Ardea  herodias,   Linn 26 

Asio    flammeus,    Pontoppidan 57 

wilsonianus,    Lesson _ -  57 

Astragalinus   tristis  tristis,   Linn 79 


Baeolophus   bicolor,    Linn — 

Baldpate 

Bartramia    longicauda,    Bechstein 
Bee-Bird   .... 

martin     _ 

Bittern    - 

Blackbird,    Red-winged 

Rusty  

Bluebird    

summer    

Blue   Jay,    Florida 

Bobolink     .'. 

Bob-white 


.131 
..  23 
..  35 
67 

67 

__  26 

71 

73 

136 

95 

70 

.._. 70 


Bombycilla    cedrorum,    Vieillot 100 

Botaurus    lentiginosus,    Montagu _ 26 

Branta  canadensis   canadensis,   Linn 25 

Bubo  virginianus   virginianus,   Gmel 59 

Bullbat    65,    66 


Bunting,    black-throated    

indigo 

Butcher-bird 


101 

Buteo   borealis   borealis,    Gmel -  49 

lineatus    alleni,    Ridgway 50 

lineatus,   Gmel ~  50 

platypterus,    Vieillot    51 

Butorides    virescens    virescens,    Linn 27 

Buzzard,    turkey    - 46 


Calidris    leucophaea,    Pallas  ..........................  _  .........  33 

Campephilus    principalis,    Linn  ............  .  ...........  60 

Cardinal    .......................................................................................  93 

Cardinalis    cardina'lis    cardinalis,   Linn....  93 

Carpodacus   purpureus   purpureus,  Gmel.  79 
Catbird    ............................  ________  '.  ................................  -  .................  127 

Catharista   urubu,    Vieillot  .....................................  -  46 

Cathartes   aura   septemtrionalis,   Wied  ......  46 

Catoptrophorus   semipalmatus,    Gmel  ..........  35 

Cedarbird   ....................................  __________________________  .....  —100 


Cedar   waxwing   .....................................  _ 

Centurus    carolinus,    Linn  -------- 


100 


Certhia  familiaris  americana,   Bona- 
parte  __.129 

Ceryle    alcyon,    Linn 60 

Chsemepelia   passerina   terrestris,    Chap- 
man     _ „  45 

Chsetura   pelagica,    Linn 66 

Chat,    yellow-breasted    125 

Chickadee,    Canada   131 

Chondestes    grammacus,    Say _. 83 

Chordeiles  virginianus  chapmani,  Coues  66 

virginianus, 
Gmel _  65 

Circus    hudsonius,    Linn 47 

Coccyzus   americanus   americanus,    Linn  59 

Colaptes   auratus   auratus,    Linn — __ „...  64 

luteus,    Bangs    64 

Colinus  virginianus  virginianus,   Linn.™  36 
Compsothlypis    americana   americana, 

Linn _ _ 108 

Conuropsis   carolinensis,    Linn.. 59 

Coot     29 

Cormorant    _ 22 

Corvus  brachyrhynchos  paulus,  Howell...  70 

Coturnicops    noveboracensis,    Gmel _  28 

Cowbird    71 

Crane,   big   blue „  25 

white    26 


whooping     ... 

Creeper,    brown    

Crow,    blackbird     ...... 

carrion    r... 

rain    

southern    

Cuckoo,    yellow-billed   

Curlew,    long-billed   _  36 

Cyanocitta   cristata   florincola,   Coues 70 


..  27 

..129 

73 

46 
59 
70 
59 


Dafila    acuta,    Linn 

Darter,    big    blue 

little  blue  


Dendroica   aestiva  aestiva,    Gmel. 

castanea,    Wilson 

cerulea,    Wilson 


coronata,   Linn, 
discolor,    Vieillot 


.......  24 

48 
.......  47 


112 
..112 
Ill 


122 

dominica  dominica,  Linn 113 

fusca,    Muller 113 

magnolia ,    W i Ison _ _ 111 

palmarum  hypochrysea, 

Ridgway   121 

Dendroica    palmarum,    Gmel 121 

pennsylvanica,    Linn 112 

striata,   J.   R.   Forster 113 

vigoral,    Audubon 119 

virens,    Gmel _ 119 


21 


Dickcissel 
Didapper 

Dolichonyx    oryzivorus,    Linn 70 

Dove,    ground    _  45 

mourning     45 


140 


GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF  ALABAMA 


Dryobates    borealis,    Vieillot — -- 

pubescens   pubescens,    Linn, 
villosus   auduboni,    Swainson 

Duck,   black    

lesser-scaup 
scaup    ... 
summer 
wood   — 


.  61 
.  61 
..  60 
23 
25 
25 
24 
,  24 
127 


Dumetella    carolinensis,    Linn. 

Eagle,    bald   I . 

Ectopistes   migratorius,   Linn — — 

Egret     

snowy    _ 

Egretta    candidissima    candidissima, 

Elanoides    forficatus,    Linn - 

Empidonax  flaviventris,  W.   M.   &   S.  F. 

B  a  i  r  d  

Empidonax    virescens,    Vieillot 

Ereunetes    pusillus,    Linn 

Euphagus    carolinus,    Muller  — 


Falco    columbarius    columbarius,  Linn 56 

peregrinus   anatum,   Bonaparte 52 

sparverius   sparverius,   Linn 56 

Finch,    purple   - -  79 

Flicker     -  64 

northern 


Florida    caerulea,    Linn 

Flycatcher,    Arcadian   . — 

crested 


yellow-bellied     

Fly-up-the-creek     _ — _ 

Fulica    americana,    Gmel 


Gallinago    delicata,    Ord 

Gavai    immer,    Brennich 

Geothlypis   triches  ignota,   Chapmai 

Gnatcatcher,    blue-gray    

Godwit,    marbled    

Goldfinch    

Goose,    Canada    

Crackle,    boat-tailed    _ 


bronzed 

purple    .. 
Grebe,    pied-billed 

Greenhead    

Grosbeak,    blue     

rose-breasted    

Grus    americana,    Linn „ 

Guiraca   caerulea   caerulea,    Linn. 

Gull,    laughing    

Hal-'zeetus  leucocephalus  leucocephalus, 

Linn _ — 

Hawk,  broad-winged  

chicken     — 

cooper's 

duck 

fish     .. 


Florida    red-shouldered- 

marsh    

pigeon   47     56 

rabbit 1  47 

red-shouldered    _ 50 

red-tailed   _ _  49 

sharp-shinned     „ 47 

sparrow „.,  56 

Helinaia   swainsoni,    Audubon 106 

Helmitheros    vermivorus,    Gmel 107 


Helodromas    solitarius    solitarius,  Wilson  35 

Herodias    egretta,    Gmel -265 

Heron,    black-crowned    night 27 


great  blue 

green 

little    blue.....' 1..ZI II_Z. 

yellow-crowned  night _.. 

Hirundo  erythrogastra,  Boddaert...... 

Hummingbird,  ruby-throated  

Hydrochelidon  nigra  surinamensis, 
Gmel. 


26 

27 

26 

27 

100 

66 

_ 21 

Hylocichla    aliciae    aliciae,    Baird 134 

aliciae  bicknelli,   Ridgway 134 

fuscescens   fuscescens,   Ste- 

— — 134 

guttata   pallasi,    Cabaniss 135 

mus  tel  1  in  a,    Gmel _ _..  133 

ustulata   swainsoni,  Tschudi_135 


phens 


Ibis,    wood   25 

Icteria  virens   virens,   Linn...... _125 

Icterus   gabula,    Linn 73 

spurius,    Linn.  _ 72 

Indigo    bird    95 


Jaybird     

J  or ee    

Junco    hyemalis    hyemalis,    Linn 

slate-colored    

Killdeer     . 

Kingbird     

Kingfisher,    belted    

Kinglet,    golden-crowned     

ruby-crowned     

Kite,    swallow-tailed    _ 47 

Lanius   ludovicianus   ludovicianus,   Linn. 101 

Lanivireo    flavifrons,    Vieillot 104 

solitarius    alticola,    Brewster...l05 
Lark,    horned    69 

oldfield   

prairie    

prairie    horned. 
Larus    atricilla,    Linn. 


Limosa   fedoa,    Linn 

Log-cock 


Lophodytes   cucullatus,   Linn 


Mallard     

black 


..  72 
..  96 
...  70 
I  21 
..  34 
_  62 
...  23 

23 

23 


Mareca   americana,    Gmel.  _ 

Marila   aflinis,    Eyton 25 

americana,    Eyton 25 

marila,    Linn.._ 25 

Martin,    purple  99 

Meadowlark     72 

southern     72 

Megaquiscalus   major  major,   Vieillot 78 

Melanerpes    erythrocephalus,   Linn .  62 

Meleagris   galloparvo   silvestris,    Vieillot  41 

Melospiza    georgiana,    Latham- - 91 

melodia    melodia,    Wilson 91 

Merganser,    hooded   23 

Mimus    polyglottos    polyglottos,    Linn 126 

Minotilta    varia,    Linn. 106 

Mocking-bird     126 

Molothrus    ater    ater,    Boddasrt 71 

Myoteria    americana,    Linn 25 

Myiarchus    crinitus,    Linn 68 

Myiochanes    virens,    Linn. __  68 


AVERT  BIRD  COLLECTION 


141 


Plover     black-bellied                              .    -     86 

upland     35 

Podilymbus    podiceps,    Linn  21 

Flerida                                            "6 

Polioptila  caerulea   caerulea,   Linn  -132 
Pooacetes   gramincus   gramineus,    Gmel....  80 
Porzana   Carolina,    Linn  28 
Progne   subis   subis     Linn                               99 

red-breasted    130 
Florida   white-breasted   129 
Numenius    americanus,    Bechstein  36 
Nyotanassa    violacea,    Linn  _  27 
Nycticorax   nycticorax   naevius,    Boodaert  27 

Octocoris    alpestris    alpestris,    Linn  69 
alpestris   praticola,   Henshaw...  70 

Protonotaria    citrea,    Boddsert  106 
Quail                                                       36 

Querquedula    discors,    Linn  24 
Quiscalus    quiscula   seneus,    Ridgway  78 
quiscula    quiscula,    Linn  73 

Rail,    king    27 
yellow                                                          28 

Oriole,    Baltimore    73 

orchard    72 
Osprey     —  57 

Rallus    elegans,    Audubon  —  27 

Otus  asio  asio,   Linn  58 
asio   naevius,    Gmel  51 

summer                    97 

Redhead    ;  25 

Oven-bird     -  I22 
Owl,    barn    -  57 

Red-start                                                               126 

barred                           58 

Regulus    calendula   calendula,    Linn  131 
satrapa   satrapa,   Lichenstein  131 
Robin,    Southern    _  136 

Florida    barred              _  -  58 

Florida    screech  58 

great,    horned  59 

Rhynchops    nigra     „  22 

screech   59 

short-eared    5  7 

pectoral    32 

Pandion    haliastus    carolinensis,    Gmel.  —  57 
Paroquet     Carolina,    Linn  ~  -.       59 

semipalmated   _  33 

salitary    —  35 

Passerculus  sandwichensis  savanna, 
Wilson                   ~  -  80 

white-rumped   _  33 

Sapsucker     yellow-bellied                                61 

Passer    domesticus,    Linn  _  79 

Sayornis    phoebe     Latham                                68 

Passerella   iliaca    iliaca,    Merrem.  91 
Passerherbulus  henslowi  henslowi,  Au- 
dubon                       83 

Seal                                                                      100 

Seiurus   aurocapillus     Linn.                         122 

motacilla     Vieillot                           123 

Passerina    cyanea,    Linn  95 

noveboracensis  notabilis,   Ridg- 
way                                                                123 

Peep                           ~  33 

Peetweet                     ...     _..  .._    —  35 

Seiurus   noveboracensis   noveboracensis, 
Gmel                                                            123 

P&lican,    brown                  22 

white                          22 

Setophaga    ru  tic  ilia     Linn.                            126 

Pelecanus    erythrorhynchos,    Gmel  22 

Shearwater    „  22 

Shirt-tail                                                                 62 

Penthestes   carolinensis   carolinensis, 
Audubon           „   131 

Shnv^iw                                                                    24 

Shrike,    Loggerhead                                        101 

Petrochelidon   lunifrons   lunifrons,   Say...  99 
Peucsea  sestivalis   bachmani,   Audubon  87 
Pewee,    wood        .     ..-  -  —  68 

Sialia  sialis   sialis,   Linn  _  __  136 

Sitta    canadensis,    Linn.                            .  130 

carolinensis    atkinsi,    Scott  129 
pusilla,    Latham  130 
Skimmer,   black   .     ._    22 
Snipe                                                                     32 

Phalacrocorax  auritus,    Lesson  22 
Philochela    minor,    Gmel  30 
Phlceotomus    pileatus   pileatus     Linn.  62 

Phoebe                                                                       68 

Wilson's                                                   32 

Pigeon,    passenger    45 

Sora                                _    28 

Pine     Siskin                                                    -  80 

Sparrow,    Bachman's    87 
Chipping                                            85 

Pintail                                                          24 

Pipilo  erythrophthalmus    alleni,    Coues.-  92 
canaster,  How- 
ell                                                                   92 

TCppljsh                                               79 

TTi^M                                                  «fi 

fox                                                     91 

Pipilo   erythrophthalmus   erythrophthal- 
mus,   Linn.    92 

"Pi-nit                                                                                                     126 

grasshopper  _  80 

Henslow's                                         83 

lark       __  _.._  83 

gftv»r>ni^                                              80 

song                            .           .      91 

swamp  _  91,    133 

vesper    _  .          80 

minutilla     Vieillot                             38 

white-throated    _.._       85 

Planesticus  migratorius  achrusterus, 
Batchelder    ...                            -136 

Spatula    clypeata,    Linn  ...  24 

Sphyrapicus   varius   varius,   Linn  61 

142 


GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF  ALABAMA 


Spinus    pinus,    Wilson                

_  80 
96 
n._  85 
86 
36 

Vulture,    black    
turkey   - 

Warbler,   bay-breasted  
black   and   white 

46 
46 

112 
106 
113 

Spizella   passerina    passerina,  Bechstei 
pusilla   pusilla,    Wilson  
Squatarnla    gqiiatar^la     Linn. 

Stelgidopteryx    serripennis,    Audubon. 
Sterna    antillariim,     T,ps<jnn  ,  

100 
.      21 

blackbiirrnan 

black-poll    _ 

maviTTia,    Roddflert         ,\. 

21 

black-throated   green  
Canada 

......119 
126> 

Strix  varia    alleni,    Ridgway 

58 

varia,     "Rari'.nTi 

58 
72 
72 
100 
_...  99 
100 
66 

97 
Q7 

cerulean 

112 

Sturnella  magna   argutula,    Bangs  — 
magna,   Linn  
Swallow     barn 

chestnut-s  ided    _  _  
golden-  winged 

...-  112 
107 

hooded    . 

126 

cliff   

Kentucky 

......    -123 

rough-  winged 

magnolia    .  . 

111 

Swift,    chimney    
Tanager,    scarlet    _  

myrtle    
palm   _  _.  
parula     „  _  
pine     

Ill 
.121 
108 
119 

24 

prairie    
prothonotary     . 

122 

00 

106 

Tern,    black                

.......  21 

Swainson's    
Tennessee    „  „  
Worm-eating    
yellow     _... 
yellow-rumped   
yellow-throated    
Water-thrush    
Grinnell's   _ 

106 
108 
_107 
Ill 
_  Ill 
_  113 
123 
12$ 

least 

21 

royal       . 

._     21 

Thrasher,   brown        

.     128 

Thrush,    Bicknell's     ...  .       

134 

134 
135 

hermit                      

135 

Wilson's     _  ~  
wood 

134 
133 

Louisiana    „  
Waxwing,    cedar    „  _ 
Whip-poor-will      
Widow,    Chuck-Will's   
Willet 

123 
100 
_  65 
64 
35 
126 
126 
._  30 
60 
62 
63 

Thryomanes    bewicki    bewicki,  Audubon...l29 
Thryothorus    ludovicianus    ludovicianus, 
Latham     '.  128 
-Titmouse     tufted                                              131 

Wilsonia    canadensis,    Linn  „„  

Totanus    flavipes,    Gmel  _ 
melanoleucus     Gmel. 

.......  34 
34 

Woodcock     
Woodpecker,    ivory-billed     
pileated     
red  bellied 

Towhee      
Alabama    

92 
92 

white-eyed    

.....     92 

:...  ei 

62 
61 
60 
129 
128 
129 

64 
34 
34 
124 

_  94 
Linn  45 
85 

Toxostoma    rufum     Linn. 

128 

red-headed     
Southern   downy  
hairy  
Wren,    Bewick's   _  „. 
Carolina     
hous  e    _  _  

Yellow    hammer     _  _  
Yellow-legs     _ 
Yellow-legs,   greater   _  _  
Yellow-threat,    Florida     

Zamelodia    ludoviciana,    Linn  
Zenaidura   macroura    carolinensis, 
Zonotrichia    albicollis,    Gmel....  

Troglodytes   aedon   aedon,   Vieillot  
Tyrannus    tyrannus,    Linn  „. 

129 
_  67 

Turkey,    water    
wild 

22 
41 

Veery     
Vermivora    chrysoptera,    Linn  
peregrina,    Wilson  
Vireo   griseus    griseus,    Bodsert  
mountain   ..  _ 
red-eyed   
white-eyed   
yellow-  throated 
Vireosylva    olivacea,    Linn  „  

134 
107 
108 
105 
105 
102 
105 
104 
102 

THIS  BOOK  IS  DUE  ON  THE  LAST  DATE 
STAMPED  BELOW 


AN  INITIAL  FINE  OF  25  CENTS 

WILL  BE  ASSESSED  FOR  FAILURE  TO  RETURN 
THIS  BOOK  ON  THE  DATE  DUE.  THE  PENALTY 
WILL  INCREASE  TO  SO  CENTS  ON  THE  FOURTH 
DAY  AND  TO  $1.OO  ON  THE  SEVENTH  DAY 
OVERDUE.  IT  •V 


LD  21-100m-12,'43  (8796s) 


QL684 
A2A9 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 


